Australian Open overnight: Quarterfinal brackets set after Day 8

The first Grand Slam of 2022 is underway. Each morning, we'll review the action you may have missed Down Under. Here's what happened overnight on Day 8 of the Australian Open.

Top story: Medvedev eyeing historic win

U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev has advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals with a 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 7-5 win over Maxime Cressy.

The No. 2-ranked Medvedev is trying to be the first man in the Open era to win his second major singles title in the next Grand Slam event.

He’s now potentially three wins from winning back-to-back major titles.

Medvedev was a runner-up in Australia last year but avenged that with a win over Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open final. Djokovic isn’t defending his Australian Open title after being deported on the eve of the year’s first major for failing to meet the country’s strict COVID-19 vaccination rules.

Medvedev had to struggle against the No. 70-ranked Cressy in a match lasting 3 1/2 hours. Cressy saved eight break-point chances in the fourth set before Medvedev got the decisive break in the 11th game, then served out at love to finish it off.

Kanepi takes down Sabalenka

Kaia Kanepi advanced to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in the final match on Day 8 of the tournament.

The 115th-ranked Kanepi upset second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7).

The women’s fourth-round match was scheduled for the main court but had to be shifted to the adjoining Margaret Court Arena because of a late-finishing day session.

Kanepi, 36, wasted four match points when she served for the match in the third set before finally clinching it in the tiebreaker.

“I thought I was going to lose it after the match points I had on my serve,” said the Estonian, who had reached the quarterfinals twice at each of the other three majors. “It was difficult to come back.

“Australian Open was the only quarterfinal of a Grand Slam I was missing. At my age, I didn’t believe I would do it.”

Kanepi wrapped it up just after midnight to set up a showdown against 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek, who beat Sorana Cirstea 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.

American women thriving in Melbourne

Danielle Collins took advantage of Elise Mertens' double fault on match point to advance to the quarterfinals and join two other Americans in the final eight at Melbourne Park. Collins advanced 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and will play Alize Cornet.

Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys are the other Americans in the quarterfinals and will play their matches on Tuesday. It is the second year in a row that three Americans have featured in the quarterfinals.

Tsitsipas battles back to avoid upset

Stefanos Tsitsipas has advanced to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. The fourth-seeded Tsitsipas beat Taylor Fritz 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the men’s fourth round on Rod Laver Arena.

Tsitsipas last year rallied from two sets down to beat Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals before losing to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals. He went on to reach the French Open final.

Fritz was playing in the fourth round of a major for the first time.

Canadians making waves Down Under

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are enjoying quite a run in the Australian sun.

For the first time, two Canadian men have reached the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Auger-Aliassime wore down 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2, 7-6 (4) on Monday to join Shapovalov in the last eight.

“I lost three times to Marin. He’s going to come out with his best level and make me earn my win and I’m happy to get through, particularly the way I did it,” the 21-year-old, No. 9-seeded Auger-Aliassime said. “The sun here in Australia hits you pretty hard (but) I feel good.”

The Canadians tuned up for the Australian Open by winning the ATP Cup in Sydney earlier this month, the pair winning their singles matches to defeat Spain in final.

The 22-year-old Shapovalov will play 20-time major winner Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals on Tuesday in the top half of the men’s bracket. Auger-Aliassime will play U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday.