Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, received a walkover in the Australian Open’s fourth round when Czech player Jakub Mensik withdrew due to an abdominal injury. This advancement marks Djokovic’s 16th quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open, a tournament he has won a record 10 times in the men’s category. The match between Djokovic and Mensik was highly anticipated as a rematch of their 2025 Miami Open final, which Mensik won to claim his first Masters 1000 trophy.
Mensik expressed his disappointment in an Instagram post, citing the progression of his abdominal muscle injury as the reason for his withdrawal from the Australian Open. Despite the setback, Mensik acknowledged the achievement of reaching the fourth round for the first time, climbing to 16th in the ATP Live Rankings. Djokovic, aiming for his 25th major title, now awaits the winner of the fourth-round match between Lorenzo Musetti and Taylor Fritz.
The 38-year-old Serbian player, Djokovic, remains undefeated in sets at Melbourne Park in 2026. He secured his 102nd match win at the tournament, equaling Roger Federer for the most wins among men, following his victory over Botic van de Zandschulp.
