{"id":438212,"date":"2026-01-26T08:38:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T08:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/438212\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T08:38:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T08:38:09","slug":"day-9-scores-and-results-highlights-madison-keys-champion-knocked-out-nick-kyrgios-loses-mixed-doubles-results-highlights-carlos-alcaraz-whoop-madison-keys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/438212\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 9 scores and results, highlights, Madison Keys champion knocked out, Nick Kyrgios loses Mixed Doubles, results, highlights, Carlos Alcaraz whoop, Madison Keys"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carlos Alcaraz was busted using a banned device, which earlier on Monday left an Australian great furious as Nick Kyrgios\u2019 Australian Open campaign officially ended.<\/p>\n

See all the news from Day 9 of the Australian Open below!<\/p>\n

UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 | SUN 1 FEB 1PM AEDT | For the first time in his storied career, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his championship in his home city of Sydney, in a rematch with Brazil\u2019s Diego Lopes. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

DEFENDING CHAMP OUT IN PODCAST BATTLE<\/p>\n

Madison Keys\u2019 title defence is over as she slumped to a straight sets lost to Jessica Pegula in a match she dubbed \u201cthe first match in grand slam history between two podcast co-hosts\u201d.<\/p>\n

Pegula dominated the all-American affair on Rod Laver Arena, taking it 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 18 minutes.<\/p>\n

The sixth seed advanced to the final eight at Melbourne Park for the fourth time in her career off the back of a rock solid display.<\/p>\n

In the first set Pegula made just four unforced errors, and the 31-year-old seized the opportunities that came her way by winning four of five break points. <\/p>\n

Keys, on the other hand, was shaky and racked up more than double the amount of unforced errors. <\/p>\n

There was none worse than a shanked smash when she had an open court to hit into, but perhaps the sun the played havoc under the high ball.<\/p>\n

It may have also been a hinderance as Keys hit six double faults compared to just one by Pegula.<\/p>\n

The pair set a wager on their match on their most recent podcast episode.<\/p>\n

Pegula, whose father owns NFL team the Buffalo Bills, avoided having to don a Kansas City Chief jersey, but Keys will have to eat what she called a \u201cdisgusting\u201d apple pie and cheddar cheese combination that Pegula is fond of.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe wanted me to wear a Kelce\/Taylor Swift Chiefs jersey,\u201d Pegula said in her on court interview.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you know, honestly had a lot of motivation today not to wear that. So, we\u2019re still going strong. So, that\u2019s good. <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe she\u2019ll eat some pie next time we do our podcast.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the quarter-finals, Pegula will face either another American in Amanda Anisimova or Xinyi Wang.<\/p>\n

STORY BEHIND KYRGIOS\u2019 UNEXPECTED DOUBLES PAIRING<\/p>\n

Nick Kyrgios\u2019 Australian Open campaign is over for another year as the Australian and Leylah Fernandez lost in straight sets in their second-round mixed doubles clash. <\/p>\n

Experienced doubles duo Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and American J.J. Tracy were simply too strong for Kyrgios and the 2021 US Open singles finalist, taking the match 6-3, 6-1 in less than an hour. <\/p>\n

Perhaps it was the late afternoon heat or the lacklustre performance of Australian tennis\u2019 clearly hampered leading showman, but the atmosphere inside John Cain Arena was not what everyone has come to expect of Kyrgios matches at Melbourne Park. <\/p>\n

The rowdiness the 30-year-old typically brings with him was absent side from the one-time acknowledgment, in the form of a finger salute, of a fan who yelled out \u2018c\u2019mon Nicky K\u2019 after the Australian fired an ace down the middle. <\/p>\n

The crowd did their best to try to inspire a comeback in the second set, but Kyrgios, who did not play singles due to fitness concerns, and his Canadian partner barely gave a yelp. <\/p>\n

They threatened a comeback when they earned two breaks point on Tracy\u2019s serve at 4-1 but surrendered the next three points. <\/p>\n

On the game deciding point \u2013 there is no need to win by two at deuce in mixed doubles \u2013 Kyrgios listened to the advice of a crowd member who advised him to hit his return down the line. <\/p>\n

But Danilina was one step ahead at the net and it set up an easy smash for Tracy. <\/p>\n

It was a moment that was emblematic of the match \u2013 Kyrgios and Fernandez were simply miles off the pace.<\/p>\n

For the Australian, mixed doubles is the one event where a deep run at his home slam has eluded him. <\/p>\n

He has never made it beyond the second round.<\/p>\n

Hopes were high of bettering that record after their first round win, when Fernandez shared the unique story of how they came together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Brisbane. I remember the night before, my dad and I were talking, and we said: \u2018Wouldn\u2019t it be cool if Nick and I, we played doubles together?\u201d Fernandez revealed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just talking like that jokingly … And I feel like my dad took the initiative and went up to Nick before practice. (He) brought up the question (and) Nick was nice enough to say, yes. I immediately sent the message, and it was just kind of started off that way, but it was great that it worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n

What comes next for Kyrgios remains to be seen as he continues to play fleetingly given his fitness issues after repeat knee and wrist surgeries.<\/p>\n

But earlier in the tournament, he did give an honest assessment of how he sees his future in the sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 23: Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts while competing with Leylah Fernandez of Canada in the Mixed Doubles First Round against Desirae Krawczyk of the United States and Neal Skupski of Great Britain during day six of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u2018NOT STEROIDS\u2019: BLOWBACK AFTER ALCARAZ ASKED TO REMOVE DEVICE<\/p>\n

Carlos Alcaraz will face off with an entire nation when he takes on Alex de Minaur in a quarter-final showdown on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

But in his fourth round victory against Tommy Paul on Sunday, the world No.1 faced off with the chair umpire and the game\u2019s governing body.<\/p>\n

During the warm-up on Rod Laver Arena, chair umpire Marija Cicak noticed a fitness-tracking Whoop watch, which is banned from the tournament, on Alcaraz\u2019s wrist and asked the Spaniard to remove the device.<\/p>\n

Television cameras captured the exchange and Alcaraz was happy to oblige.<\/p>\n

But not everyone else has been so okay with the decision.<\/p>\n

Whoop\u2019s founder Will Ahmed took to social media hit back at the turn of events and the technology being blacklisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cRidiculous. Whoop is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match wear and poses no safety risk,\u201d Ahmed posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).<\/p>\n

\u201cLet the athletes measure their bodies. Data is not steroids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Australian greats Todd Woodbridge and Lleyton Hewitt were also angered by the decision.<\/p>\n

Woodbridge called for greater consistency in the rules as he explained it is different across the men\u2019s and women\u2019s games.<\/p>\n

While Hewitt took aim at the ITF with Australia\u2019s Davis Cup captain citing that event as an example of why the organisation should be more widely questioned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw yesterday that Carlos Alcaraz had the Whoop underneath his sweatband and, of course, it says the WTA have a deal where the women can wear it at their times, the ITF say you can\u2019t wear it,\u201d Woodbridge said on Channel Nine.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, a Whoop is to collect data about how you\u2019re feeling and they worry about perhaps you could use it for coaching.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got coaching; why can\u2019t you have your own data?<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand those rules.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo this provides blood readings, pulse rates.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis [tracks] your rest, your heart rate, how your body is, sleeping patterns, how much working recovery, all of that type of stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo why isn\u2019t a player allowed to have their own data and know how they\u2019re feeling? It doesn\u2019t make sense.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes our rules in tennis, one rule is over here and then the other one says \u2018no\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we get our rules the same, please?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hewitt replied: \u201cDo we really need the ITF? They\u2019ve had a horror with Davis Cup and now with this, making new rules … When you can use it on the WTA Tour, it doesn\u2019t make any sense whatsoever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is just a player wellness thing that they can control,\u201d Woodbridge added.<\/p>\n

DAY 9 PREVIEW<\/p>\n

Djokovic, who was meant to face Jakub Mensik in the fourth round, progressed in a shock walkover after the Czech 16-seed withdrew due to an abdominal injury. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a tough one to write. After doing everything we could to keep going, I have to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal muscle injury that has progressed over the last matches,\u201d Mensik said in a post to his Instagram story on Sunday night. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s an absolutely crucial break for the 38-year-old Djokovic, who\u2019s going for his 25th grand slam title. <\/p>\n

It means the legendary Serbian only has to win four matches instead of five to get to the semi-final, where he\u2019ll more-likely-than-not meet two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner. <\/p>\n

In the quarters, Djokovic will get one of Italian Lorenzo Musetti \u2014 who he beat in the Wimbledon semi-final two years ago \u2014 or American Taylor Fritz, whom he\u2019s never lost to in 11 meetings. <\/p>\n

The extra rest is pivotal for \u2018Djoker\u2019, who made all four semi-finals last year but hasn\u2019t won a title since the 2023 US Open. <\/p>\n

Notably, after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in last year\u2019s US Open semi-final, Djokovic acknowledged the sobering reality<\/a> of how hard it now is for him to challenge the likes of the Spaniard and Sinner. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams. I think I have a better chance best of three, but best of five, it\u2019s tough,\u201d Djokovic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not giving up on Grand Slams in that regard, having said that. I\u2019m going to continue fighting and trying to get to the finals and fight for another trophy at least. But it\u2019s going to be a very difficult task.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, playing one less match en route to a probable rendezvous with Sinner certainly helps his cause. <\/p>\n

And for anyone wondering why American Ethan Quinn \u2014 who lost to Mensik in the third round \u2014 isn\u2019t playing Novak in the fourth round instead, the \u2018lucky loser\u2019 system doesn\u2019t happen in main draws of tournaments once the first round has been played. <\/p>\n

Not only do players who lose often leave the tournament once eliminated, but Djokovic certainly wouldn\u2019t be expecting to face a player already eliminated in an earlier round. <\/p>\n

Implementing an in-tournament \u2018lucky loser\u2019 system is the age-old tennis idea that\u2019s constantly debunked. And it\u2019s going to keep getting knocked back. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s simply luck of the draw, and one of the all-time greats has happened to be the beneficiary on this occasion. <\/p>\n

Meantime, world No.2 Sinner has interestingly avoided the day session \u2014 and thus, the Aussie heat \u2014 and will play at night in the off-Broadway Margaret Court Arena. <\/p>\n

The two-time defending champion comes up against fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, while Ben Shelton and Casper Ruud take centre stage on Rod Laver Arena in place of the called-off Djokovic-Mensik fixture. <\/p>\n

Demon puts on clinic as he beats Bublik | 02:19<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Maddie Inglis has a chance to make more Australian history, but daunting world No.2 Iga Swiatek stands in the West Aussie\u2019s path to the quarter-finals. <\/p>\n

A qualifier at this year\u2019s tournament, Inglis progressed to the fourth round \u2014 her best Melbourne Park result in eight tries \u2014 by way of a walkover after Naomi Osaka withdrew from their third-round match with an abdominal injury. <\/p>\n

And it\u2019s that crucial extra rest in between matches that gives our local hope a leg up, despite obviously going into the Rod Laver Arena fixture as a heavy underdog. <\/p>\n

Notably, Inglis is presented with the opportunity to make more Aussie history. An upset win over Swiatek would make the 28-year-old just the fourth Australian woman to make the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, joining Ash Barty (2019-22), Jelena Dokic (2009) and Alicia Molik (2005). <\/p>\n

Further, the only qualifiers to make the quarter-finals of the Australian Open this century are Dayana Yastremska (2024) and Zhang Shuai (2016). <\/p>\n

And what makes the gravity of the situation even more significant is the fact that Inglis qualified for her first slam main draw in four years. <\/p>\n

The women\u2019s world No.168 remarkably faced a match point in the opening round of qualifying. Now, she\u2019s set to earn at least $480,000 for her performance at this year\u2019s Open. <\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely could\u2019ve been out of here 10 days ago. Tennis is pretty crazy like that,\u201d Inglis said following news of Osaka\u2019s withdrawal.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I\u2019ve had the best result I\u2019ve ever had, so I\u2019m just enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, an all-American battle featuring reigning champion Madison Keys will have plenty of eyes on it, with the world No.9 coming up against countrywoman and six-seed Jess Pegula. <\/p>\n

China\u2019s Wang Xinyu \u2014 who, along with Inglis, are the only two remaining unseeded players in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s \u2014 tackles No.4 Amanda Anisimova. <\/p>\n

Stan finishes last Aus Open with a beer | 01:09<\/p>\n

AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 8 ORDER OF PLAY<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Singles fourth round<\/p>\n

Show courts and Aussies – all times AEDT<\/p>\n

Rod Laver Arena<\/p>\n

Day session from 11:30am<\/p>\n

[6] Jessica Pegula (USA) vs [9] Madison Keys (USA)<\/p>\n

Not before 2:00pm<\/p>\n

[5] Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs [9] Taylor Fritz (USA)<\/p>\n

Night session from 7pm<\/p>\n

Maddison Inglis (AUS) vs [9] Iga Swiatek (POL)<\/p>\n

Followed by<\/p>\n

[8] Ben Shelton (USA) vs [12] Casper Ruud (NOR)<\/p>\n

Margaret Court Arena<\/p>\n

Not before 4.00pm<\/p>\n

[5] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) vs [21] Elise Mertens (BEL)<\/p>\n

Not before 6pm<\/p>\n

[22] Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs [2] Jannik Sinner (ITA)<\/p>\n

John Cain Arena<\/p>\n

Not before 1:30pm<\/p>\n

Wang Xinyu (CHN) vs [4] Amanda Anisimova (USA)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Carlos Alcaraz was busted using a banned device, which earlier on Monday left an Australian great furious as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":438213,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[565],"tags":[34341,19469,2095,1724,64,63,689,37664,227835,225594,228334,21693,512,227833,228331,228332,9239,63943,2105,228330,136013,3231,219485,68138,41706,228333,647,28375,673,70420,2041,2067,3592,677,33064,221809,227843,228329,85,13337,670,3599,747,227838,2614,660],"class_list":["post-438212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tennis","tag-alexander-volkanovski","tag-alicia-molik","tag-america","tag-asia","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-australian-history","tag-australian-open-day","tag-australian-woman","tag-australian-woman-standing","tag-ben-shelton","tag-china","tag-court-arena","tag-daunting-opponent","tag-day-session","tag-eastern-asia","tag-elise-mertens","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-historic-quarter-final-berth","tag-home-city","tag-jack-jovanovski","tag-maddison-inglis","tag-madison-keys","tag-match-point","tag-meets-czech","tag-melbourne","tag-naomi-osaka","tag-new-south-wales","tag-night-session","tag-north-america","tag-northern-america","tag-novak-djokovic","tag-oceania","tag-opening-round","tag-rod-laver-arena","tag-show-courts","tag-shows-emotion","tag-sports","tag-stan-wawrinka","tag-sydney","tag-taylor-fritz","tag-tennis","tag-time-australian","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-victoria"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/438213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}