STAR SPORTS DESK

The 2026 Australian Open has written a unique piece of already tennis history. For the first time in the Open Era, which began in 1968, the top six seeds in both the men’s and women’s singles have progressed to the last eight of a Grand Slam. It is a statistical first in 58 years of top-level tennis.

While the women’s draw last achieved this feat at the 1998 US Open, and the men did so as recently as the 2024 Australian Open, this marks the first occasion both draws have mirrored each other so perfectly at the same major.

The trade-off has been a noticeable lack of early-round drama. Upsets were scarce, straight-sets victories common, and the opening stages unfolded without the usual Grand Slam chaos.

What the tournament has delivered instead is a loaded quarter-final line-up -- a heavyweight clash of the sport’s elite, promising quality over surprise as the Australian Open moves into its decisive phase.