Daniil Medvedev is through to the Australian Open quarterfinals along with Linda Noskova, the latter player for the first time at a Grand Slam singles tournament.
Medvedev beat Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-1 Monday to reach the last eight. He’ll play either No. 9 Hubert Hurkacz or French wild-card entry Arthur Cazaux.
The 18th-ranked Elina Svitolina was trailing Noskova 3-0 when Svitolina retired with a back injury.
The first game of the Noskova-Svitolina match lasted 11 minutes and contained 20 points. Noskova broke serve and held for 2-0 before Svitolina had a timeout and received treatment on her lower back.
When she resumed, the Ukrainian’s serve speed was well down and her movement appeared compromised. After being broken for a second time and fighting back tears, Svitolina shook Noskova’s hand and retired.
Svitolina said the injury happened at the end of the first game.
“I got a spasm, like a shooting pain,” she said. “Couldn’t do anything, completely locked my back, just very sad. I had some injuries to my back before where it just was tiredness the next day of the match, but this one was really out of nowhere. I felt like someone shot me in the back.”
Noskova beat top-ranked Iga Swiatek in the third round.
“Obviously today was not the way I had planned to win,” she said. “I feel sort for Elina, I hope she gets very well soon.”
Medvedev had two match points at 5-4 in the third set but Borges forced a fourth set only to fade away as the Russian pulled away for victory.
“Third set was tough physically because he was playing very aggressive,” Medvedev said. “As soon as I would hit one shot that was not aggressive or deep enough he would just go full power. It was pretty impressive.
“After the third set, I just hoped it would not be five sets and I’m glad it wasn’t.”
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