Novak Djokovic was at the center of another Australian Open row while Jannik Sinner needed treatment in fierce heat to battle into the quarter-finals and Iga Swiatek won easily.
But American teenage qualifier Learner Tien's fairytale run is over after he suffered a thigh problem in a four-set defeat to Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in Melbourne.
Five-time major champion Swiatek torpedoed another feel-good story as she thrashed "lucky loser" Eva Lys 6-0, 6-1 to set up a meeting with eighth seed Emma Navarro.
Swiatek then learned that the World Anti-Doping Agency will not appeal her one-month doping ban late last year.
There was more good news for her as well as Sinner - they won the International Tennis Federation's 2024 world champion awards.
With temperatures rising above 30 Celsius for a second day, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1- then declined to shake the Russian's hand.
She said it was "to bring a little light, a little win for the Ukrainian people is something that I feel I am responsible for."
Svitolina next faces American 19th seed Madison Keys after she beat former finalist Elena Rybakina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
But Svitolina's husband, 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils retired from his match in the last 16.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic drew boos after refusing to do a routine on-court interview, which he later said was in protest over "insulting and offensive comments" toward him and Serbian fans made by Channel Nine host Tony Jones.
Jones, who on Friday labeled Djokovic a "has-been," apologized yesterday after the Serb said he would boycott interviews with the TV station until he got an apology.
He later released a short video explaining his stance on X, which has been viewed more than 60 million times and saw Elon Musk, tennis stars past and present and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all wade into the row.
World number one and defending champion Sinner needed medical attention and overcame a long interruption when he broke the net with a thunderous serve to reach the last eight. He later blamed the timeout on dizzy spells.
He won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 against Danish 13th seed Holger Rune on Rod Laver Arena and next faces home hope Alex de Minaur, who beat American Alex Michelsen in straight sets.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is off to a good start at his old club.
