Quick Served: Australian Open Day 6

Medvedev's grind, Jovic’s upset, Tien's tennis IQ and the new Danimal

Jan 23, 2026

Things are heating up Down Under, and not just on the wet bulb. Andy and Producer Mike have a lot of tight matches to react to from Day 6, including Daniil Medvedev’s comeback from two sets to love, a performance Andy calls “focused, committed, calm—old-school Meddy.”

Look for a new episode of Q&Andy dropping later today with questions direct from fans at Melbourne Park, courtesy of Served correspondent Liza West.

Liza was once again in the right place at the right time yesterday for Yulia Putintseva’s latest drama. After winning her match, Putintseva went full Danielle Collins to troll a raucous crowd cheering for her opponent, Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez. Stay for the dance at the end.

Watch Quick Served Day 6 on YouTube

Bracket Busters

Iva Jovic (right) defeated Jasmine Paolini

Andy’s dark horse, Iva Jovic, scored the biggest upset of the day by taking out Jasmine Paolini [8] 6-2, 7-6. Jovic, whose parents are Serbian, received advice from Novak Djokovic before the match.

“[He said] to open up the court a little bit better, don’t rush into the shots all the time, find some more width. It ended well, so I’m just going to try to keep listening to Novak.” —Iva Jovic in her press conference

It is the 18-year-old’s first Top 10 victory and first trip to a Grand Slam fourth round. Jovic has started the year 10–2 by making the Auckland semis and Hobart final.

Andy talks Jovic on Quick Served

Francisco Cerundolo [18] beat Andrey Rublev [13] in straight sets for the biggest upset in the men’s draw on Day 6.

Stayin’ Alive

Seeds were on upset alert all throughout the day session.

First, Aryna Sabalenka [1] had a scare, losing a 4-0 lead in the second set against Anastasia Potapova and trailing 6-3 in the tiebreak. Sabalenka saved four set points in all before closing it out 7-6, 7-6. Potapova was playing with a splinted broken finger.

Meanwhile, Clara Tauson [14] and Victoria Mboko [17] painted lines for two hours and 20 minutes. Mboko led a set and 5-3, lost the next five games, then recovered to win the slugfest 7-6, 5-7, 6-3 and keep Techie Sean’s bracket intact. For her effort? The Canadian’s first fourth-round Slam match, versus Sabalenka.

Daniil Medvedev [11] posted the tournament’s first comeback from two sets down to beat Fabian Maroszan and answer our prayers for a rematch with Learner Tien [25], who upset Medvedev last year and beat Nuno Borges yesterday in straight sets.

Andy on Learner Tien's tennis IQ

More notable results

Carlos Alcaraz [1] def. Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1
Alexander Zverev [3] def. Cam Norrie [26] 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
Alex de Minaur [6] def. Frances Tiafoe [29] 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
Alexander Bublik [10] def. Tomas Etcheverry 7-6, 7-6, 6-4
Elina Svitolina [12] def. Diana Shnaider [23] 7-6, 6-3
Tommy Paul [19] def. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina [14] 6-1, 6-1, ret.
James McCabe/Li Tu def. Julian Cash/Lloyd Glasspool [1]
Leylah Fernandez/Nick Kyrgios [WC] def. Desirae Krawczyk/Neal Skupski 6-7, 6-4, 12-10

Perfect Delivery

Ben Shelton roasted his friend Emilio Nava on social media for racking up stats that nearly defy natural law in Nava’s second-round loss to Cam Norrie.

Shelton opened the video in a fit of snickers and showed the gaudy numbers on screen.

“Dude, how do you have 65 winners! And 80 unforced errors!!! In a four-set match!?” —Ben Shelton to Emilio Nava

In Nava’s defense, Andy said, was he supposed to hit fewer unforced errors than Norrie? Impossible.

Jump to Perfect Delivery

19

Consecutive Slam tiebreaks won by Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka’s two tiebreak wins yesterday over Anastasia Potapova extended her Slam tiebreak streak to an astonishing 19. The last time Sabalenka lost a tiebreak in a major was the 2023 French Open semi versus Karolina Muchova.

The Mind Game

Sabalenka’s run demonstrates a supreme level of mental fortitude, her key to 66 consecutive weeks as world No. 1. Until she won her first Slam at the 2023 Australian Open, Sabalenka had a reputation for losing the big, tight matches in majors. Those days are clearly behind her.

A reporter asked Sabalenka whether she would have won this match five years ago.

“No, definitely not. Aryna five years ago would probably be focusing too much on the way she feels and completely lose these games. Nowadays with the experience, I learned a lot that it doesn’t really matter how you feel, it’s all about your mentality, your mental strength to be there, to just try your best, to put the ball ugly, with the terrible technique, with completely body being disconnected, but just try to put it back and fight.” —Aryna Sabalenka in her press conference

Pressure Player

Sabalenka set two other tiebreak records last year. At one point, she didn’t lose a tiebreak for eight months.

22 — most tiebreaks won in a singles season (previous record of 16 held by Billie Jean King, Wendy Turnbull and Elena Rybakina)
19 — most consecutive tiebreaks won across both Slams and tour matches (previous record of 18 held by Andy)

Another Flex

Sabalenka revealed a new Gucci partnership yesterday, and Producer Mike noticed a low-key flex regarding their upcoming plans. Hint: It’s the opposite of the year Andy’s face was all over New York City during the US Open after he lost in the first round.

Listen to the story on YouTube