The Australian Open will wrap up its slam this January 30. So far, Italy's Jannik Sinner, the 11th seed, made quick work of local favorite Alex de Minaur with a 7-6(3) 6-3 6-4 win on Rod Laver Arena to reach his maiden Australian Open quarter-final and join compatriot Matteo Berrettini in the last eight.

Meanwhile, world number two Daniil Medvedev, last year's finalist, held off unseeded American Maxime Cressy 6-2 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 7-5 in a 3-1/2 hour contest on Margaret Court Arena to set up a quarter-final clash with Felix Auger-Alissime.

However, it's not all games in the pandemic-plagued tournament, and here are the other highlights you might need to know as reported by Reuters.

 

 

 

 

 

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Hublot said vaccination is a personal choice
Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot. believes getting vaccinated is a personal choice.

"The principle of vaccines is that it's something private. We value personal freedom, everyone can decide, one can be in favor or against, that's our position," he said.

His brand sponsors Novak Djokovic, who was deported out of Australia on January 16 due to his unvaccinated status. The decision was made after Djokovic lost a long legal process to have the cancellation of his visa overturned.

"We are waiting to see what his position is with regard to all that he went through," he commented on the incident, adding that he believed Djokovic would make a statement at the end of the Australian tournament.

"We will define our position then."

 

 

 

 

 

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Navratilova slams Australian Open organizers
A video emerged of security officials and police instructing fans on Saturday to remove shirts with the slogan, "Where is Peng Shuai?", prompting 18-times Grand Slam winner Martina Navratilova to say that the organizers were cowardly.

Tennis Australia (TA) defended its stance by saying the tournament does not allow political statements while insisting that Peng's safety remained its "primary concern".

"I find it really, really cowardly," she berated. "I think they are wrong on this. This is not a political statement, this is a human rights statement.

"(Tennis Australia is) just really capitulating on this issue ... letting the Chinese really dictate what they do at their own Slam. I just find it really weak."

French player Nicolas Mahut backs her up on Twitter, saying: "What lack of courage! What if you did not have Chinese sponsors."