Sabalenka, Gauff on collision course as Alcaraz moves on

World number one Aryna Sabalenka swept into the quarter-finals at a scorching-hot Australian Open on Sunday and was joined by Coco Gauff, while Carlos Alcaraz advanced when Jack Draper retired.

- Agencies

MELBOURNE:

Four-time major champion Alcaraz will face Novak Djokovic in the last eight if the Serbian great defeats Czech 24th seed Jiri Lehecka.

Double defending champion Sabalenka blew away Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in a ruthless display on the hottest day of the tournament so far.

As temperatures hit 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) in Melbourne, Gauff dropped a set for the first time this season but fought back to beat Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Sabalenka and Gauff will meet in the semi-finals should they win their respective matches in the last eight.

Belarus's Sabalenka was out on a roasting centre court for only 62 minutes before registering an 18th consecutive win at Melbourne Park.

"I'm super happy to get through this difficult match in straight sets," said Sabalenka, who faces Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova next.

The Russian 27th seed beat ailing Croatian 18th seed Donna Vekic 7-6 (7/0), 6-0.