Teams on the ATP and WTA tours get ready to vie for quarterfinal spots at the Australian Open over the weekend.
From upsets to triumphant returns and new partnerships to dramatic face-offs, the first few days of the Australian Open doubles events had it all, providing the perfect segue for a dramatic weekend.
The men’s draw got blown wide open right from the start. After winning a round, 2018 champions and top seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic lost their second match to Maximo Gonzalez and Nicolas Jarry.
That came on the heels of the loss suffered by the duo they beat in last year’s final, Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal. “Colombian Power” fell to the unseeded Jack Sock and Jackson Withrow as Sock’s streak at the majors stretched to 13 wins in a row, after he won the US Open and Wimbledon, with Mike Bryan.
Mike has reunited with his brother Bob, who’s made his way back to the court after major hip surgery, and the all-time greats reached the round of 16 for the 18th consecutive year.
They’ve established themselves as one of the favorites for the title along with another former championship team, Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares. The 2016 victors also made it to the weekend with a couple of solid performances to extend their winning streak on the year.