Novak Djokovic steamrolled local hope Alex de Minaur 6-2 6-1 6-2 to ease into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a statement win in his quest for a 10th title at the Grand Slam that has only been threatened by a hamstring issue.
Novak Djokovic
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
He’ll next meet fifth seed Andrey Rublev.
It was Djokovic’s 38th consecutive win on Australian soil and the fewest number of games he has dropped in a match at the year’s first major since he lost four against Lucas Pouille in the semi-finals in 2019.
Asked after the match why he beat De Minaur the way he did, Djokovic replied: “Because I wanted to.”
Having never lost at Melbourne Park since the fourth round in 2018 the 35-year-old was in no mood to give De Minaur a sniff of a chance on Rod Laver Arena, as he raced out of the blocks and dominated his opponent with blistering shots on both wings.
“I can’t say I’m sorry you’ve not watched a longer match,” Djokovic told fans.
Andrey Rublev rallied from the brink to dump Holger Rune out of the tournament and book a second quarter-final at Melbourne Park courtesy of a lucky net cord on match point that sealed a 6-3 3-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 (11-9) cliffhanger.
Fifth seed Rublev did it the hard way, coming back from 5-2 down in the final set at Rod Laver Arena and saving two match points before a 10-point tiebreak of unrelenting tension.
“(Tennis is) not a rollercoaster, it’s like they put a gun to your head,” Rublev joked on court.
“I think a rollercoaster is a lot easier, man.
“I never in my life was able to win matches like this, this was the first time in my life I was able to win a match like this.”
American Ben Shelton extended his dream run at the Australian Open by overcoming compatriot J.J. Wolf in a five-set battle, exceeding his own low expectations he had about his first trip to Melbourne Park.
The 20-year-old Shelton had never travelled outside the United States until this year but he is making the most of his first international trip, having reached the quarter-finals in only his second Grand Slam main draw appearance.
Shelton was ranked 570 last year but has now climbed up to 43 in the world rankings.
He’ll next face compatriot Tommy Paul and along with Sebastian Korda it means there are three American men in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2000.
-Reuters
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