MELBOURNE, Jan 21 (V7N) – Jannik Sinner displayed remarkable resilience as he battled through illness to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday. Meanwhile, the physical demands of Grand Slam tennis proved too challenging for French veteran Gael Monfils and American teenager Learner Tien.

Iga Swiatek continued her strong performance, overpowering lucky loser Eva Lys with a decisive 6-0 6-1 victory. Swiatek is on a quest for her maiden title at Melbourne Park and her sixth Grand Slam title overall.

Elena Rybakina, however, struggled with a back issue and was defeated by Madison Keys in a roller-coaster match that ended 6-3 1-6 6-3.

Monfils, aged 38, was forced to retire due to back problems while trailing Ben Shelton 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 1-0, concluding a promising run after his triumph in Auckland.

The defending champion, Sinner, faced a challenging match against Holger Rune under stifling heat at Rod Laver Arena. Despite experiencing dizzy spells and taking a medical timeout in the third set, Sinner secured a 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-2 victory. He acknowledged his physical struggles, stating, "I wasn't feeling really well... I was struggling physically." This quarter-final appearance marks Sinner's 10th Grand Slam quarter-final, equaling the Italian record set by Nicky Pietrangeli.Sinner will next face home favorite Alex de Minaur, who reached the quarter-finals for the first time after defeating rising American Alex Michelsen 6-0 7-6(5) 6-3. De Minaur expressed his excitement, stating, "There is nothing I want more than to play well here in Australia."

Unseeded Lorenzo Sonego joined Sinner in the quarter-finals after overcoming the injured Tien 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1. Tien, aiming to be the youngest man to reach the quarters since Goran Ivanisevic in 1989, faced physical challenges during the match.

Keys celebrated her return to the quarter-finals a decade after her last appearance, stating, "It's hard to believe that it was 10 years ago." She will face familiar opponent Elina Svitolina, who brought attention to her home country by defeating Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 6-1 and leaving a message on the camera reading "the Spirit of Ukraine." Svitolina emphasized her motivation to win for her country, saying, "For me, to find a way to win matches... is something that I feel I am responsible for."

In a significant development, Swiatek received news that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) would not appeal her case regarding a positive test for trimetazidine, a situation that had caused her much concern. She will next face Emma Navarro, who triumphed over Daria Kasatkina 6-4 5-7 7-5.As the tournament progresses, tennis fans eagerly await the next round of matches, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Grand Slam tennis and the personal battles athletes face both on and off the court.

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