Overview
- Paul led 6-1, 6-1 after 55 minutes when Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired following treatment for a left hamstring/thigh issue.
- Davidovich Fokina said he felt a twinge in his left hamstring and decided he could not compete effectively against Paul.
- The American has yet to drop a set in Melbourne and reaches the last 16 for the third time in four years.
- The result pushes Paul’s head-to-head advantage over Davidovich Fokina to 5-0.
- Paul will face Carlos Alcaraz next after the top seed beat Corentin Moutet in straight sets earlier in the day.