Tennis-Djokovic, Sabalenka progress as Zheng, Ruud make early exits

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 15, 2025 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her second round match against Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz swept into the third round of the Australian Open in the wake of women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday as the rain returned and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen bowed out.

While Zheng, who was stunned 7-6(3) 6-3 by Laura Siegemund, was the first top-10 women's seed to exit, sixth seed Casper Ruud became the fourth to fall on the men's side after going down 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik.