Australian Open 2026: Novak Djokovic Advances to Quarter-Finals as Jakub Mensik Withdraws with Injury
Novak Djokovic's quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title received a significant boost after his opponent, Jakub Mensik, withdrew from the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury. The 20-year-old Czech player was set to face Djokovic in the fourth round on Monday evening in Melbourne, but the match will now be skipped, allowing Djokovic to advance directly to the quarter-finals.
Djokovic will now compete against either the fifth-seed Italian Lorenzo Musetti or the ninth-seed American Taylor Fritz in the next stage. This news comes after the withdrawal of two-time champion Naomi Osaka on Saturday, and other players, such as 2025 winner Jannik Sinner, have faced challenges in the scorching heat, which is predicted to reach 42C on Tuesday.
If the remaining draw follows the seedings, Djokovic, the 38-year-old Serb, could potentially face Sinner in the semi-finals and the world's number one, Carlos Alcaraz, in the final. Djokovic's last Grand Slam victory was at the 2023 US Open, where he equaled Margaret Court's record of 24 major titles.
Djokovic, who has yet to drop a set at this year's Australian Open, experienced a setback in 2025 when he was eliminated in the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams. Despite this, he remains optimistic, stating after his third-round win over Botic van de Zandschulp on Saturday, "I feel really good. It's been a great start to the tournament."
"Of course, things can change," he added, "I'm not getting ahead of myself because I learned a lesson last year. I got too excited early in some Grand Slams, playing well and reaching the quarters and semis, but then getting injured in three out of four last year."
Mensik, who defeated Djokovic in the final of last year's Masters event in Miami, catapulting him into the world's top 25, prepared for the Australian Open by winning another tour title in Auckland. Seeded 16th in Melbourne, he was set to make his fourth-round debut at a major. However, he announced his withdrawal on Instagram, stating, "After giving it our all, I have to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal muscle injury that worsened over the past matches."
"After long discussions with my team and doctors, we decided not to play tomorrow. Even though I'm disappointed, making the fourth round here for the first time is something I'll cherish for a long time. The energy from the fans and the special atmosphere in Melbourne truly made it memorable. Thank you to my team and everyone who sent messages and cheered for me. It means more than you know. Now, it's time to recover properly."
Mensik had previously beaten Spanish players Pablo Carreno Busta and Rafael Jodar, as well as American Ethan Quinn, to reach the last 16.
