Maya Joint and Ajla Tomljanović into quarterfinals of WTA Tour events

Australian teenager Taylah Preston caused a major upset at the WTA tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, defeating world No. 20 Donna Vekic to advance to the quarterfinals. This victory marks a significant breakthrough in the young player's career, demonstrating her growing potential on the international stage.

The 18-year-old Preston swept aside fifth-seeded Vekic 6-1, 6-2 in Wednesday's match. Already projected to rise to No. 87 in the world rankings after her impressive 6-3, 6-2 first-round win over Yulia Grabher, this victory will undoubtedly propel her ranking even further, solidifying her position as a rising star.

This rising Australian tennis star had set a goal of breaking into the world's top 100 by 2025, but she has achieved this feat in just the first two months of this year. Next, Preston will compete against Elina Avanesyan for a spot in the semifinals, after Avanesyan defeated Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 6-4, showcasing the competitive nature of the tournament.

Also advancing to the quarterfinals was Australian Daria Saville, who defeated Anhelina Kalinina 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. In the United States, Ajla Tomljanovic also successfully reached the quarterfinals at the WTA tournament in Austin, Texas, battling through three sets to defeat British player Jodi Anna Burrage 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Tomljanovic had previously defeated American seventh seed Katie Volynets the day before. She will next face Japan's Ena Shibahara, who defeated Australian Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, highlighting the strong Australian presence in these tournaments.

On the other hand, Australian players faced setbacks at the Dubai Championships. World No. 27 Alexei Popyrin was eliminated by a resurgent Marin Cilic. Popyrin lost to the 2014 US Open champion Cilic 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 after winning the first set. This was Cilic's second consecutive win over a higher-ranked Australian player in Dubai, after he defeated world No. 8 Alex de Minaur in three sets on Tuesday. Sydney's Chris O'Connell also suffered defeat, having performed well in the qualifiers, but subsequently losing to Matteo Berrettini 7-6(2), 6-2, underscoring the challenges faced by Australian players in the tournament.

Popyrin had hoped to gain momentum on the ATP tour after a season opening plagued by injuries, aiming to build confidence. After defeating Lebanese player Hady Habib in the first round, he seemed to be on track, breaking Cilic's serve at the end of the first set. But as de Minaur discovered the day before, a resurgent Cilic was playing at his best, despite his current world ranking of No. 186. The Croatian player, who underwent knee surgery last May and returned four months later ranked No. 777, winning the Hangzhou Open to become the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history, is continuing to rediscover his former glory, demonstrating his resilience and determination.

In his match against Popyrin, Cilic fought back in the second set, saving several break points at 2-2 before breaking the serve of the big-serving Australian in the sixth game. In the deciding set, Cilic's serve remained unchallenged, while he relentlessly attacked Popyrin, breaking in the fifth game, which proved decisive. This victory earned Cilic a chance to compete for a quarterfinal spot against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who previously defeated Portugal's Nuno Borges 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, setting the stage for an exciting match.

Top seed Daniil Medvedev said he didn't even have time to think about how to return Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard's powerful serve, but he still managed to win a hard-fought victory 6-4, 6-4. "You have zero time, so it's completely instincts, and sometimes it makes it easier because you don't think too much," Medvedev said of his 21-year-old opponent's weapon. "If you miss, you're not even disappointed! You just try to do your best - and I did quite well today." Medvedev will next face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, who defeated defending champion Ugo Humbert, advancing with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament and the challenges faced by even the top-ranked players.