Sharapova, Zverev and Del Potro bow out on day 6 of Australian Open
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E-mail Xinhua, January 21, 2018
The record crowd of over 87,000 people that packed into Melbourne Park on Saturday, to see day six of the Australian Open were not disappointed.
There were a number of high profile exits, some come-from-behind victories and an epic 3-setter that equaled the tournament's all time record for the most games played in a women's match.
World number one Simona Halep, narrowly made it through to the round of 16 after edging out American Lauren Davis in a grueling war of attrition that ended 4-6, 6-4, 15-13.
Following the gripping encounter, both women explained, that neither had ever played a match that came close to the exhausting battle.
Despite the loss, Davis has definitely won herself some new fans after the incredible effort that saw her play on even after losing a toenail during the contest.
In the men's bracket, last year's winner Roger Federer, dispatched Richard Gasquet in straight sets, Novak Djokovic impressed as he eased his way to victory over world number 21 Albert Ramos Vinolas and Dominic Thiem cruised into the last 16 after defeating Adrian Mannarino.
But some other big names fell short, fourth seed Alexander Zverev spat the dummy in his match with South Korea's Hyeon Chung, receiving a code violation after smashing his racket.
Although the German won the first set, Hyeon had success when he attacked the net and fought back to win the 5-set thriller.
It's the first time the 21-year-old has made it into the fourth round at a Grand Slam.
Former U.S. Open winner, Juan Martin Del Potro also crashed out, after losing in straight sets to Tomas Berdych.
While in the women's bracket, Angelique Kerber demolished a lackluster Maria Sharapova in straight sets, Karolina Pliskova overcame fellow Czech player lucie Safarova and local favorite Ashleigh Barty succumb to the power hitting of Japan's Naomi Osaka.
In another big upset, Chinese Taipei's Hsieh Su-wei defeated world number 26 Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets and continued her outstanding form at this year's tournament.
It is only the second time, the 32-year-old has made it to the 4th round of a Grand Slam.
There was also success for China's Yang Zhaoxuan and her Japanese partner Shuko Aoyama in the women's doubles, as they advanced to the next round after defeating Mona Barthel and Carina Witthoeft in straight sets.
While China's Peng Shaui and Belorussian Max Mirnyi started strong on the first day of the mixed doubles bracket, easing past the European duo of Andrea Sestini Hlavackova and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
In the junior championships, men's jr Mu Tao from China showed his future potential beating out Aussie hopeful Tristan Schoolkate 6-4, 6-2 and on the women's side of the junior bracket, China's Wang Xiyu won and entertaining 3-setter against the hard hitting Api Shah Violet from Papua New Guinea.
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