Final Up to date: January 23, 2023, 17:43 IST
Novak Djokovic has not misplaced in Melbourne since 2018. (AP Photograph)
Victory put Novak Djokovic right into a thirteenth Melbourne quarter-final to maneuver fourth on the all-time record behind Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe
Novak Djokovic demolished Alex de Minaur for the lack of simply 5 video games to comb right into a thirteenth Australian Open quarter-final and ship an ominous warning Monday, displaying few indicators of his troublesome hamstring. The Serbian brushed previous the Australian twenty second seed 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 on Rod Laver Area to maneuver a step nearer to a tenth title at Melbourne Park, and 22 main crown.
Along with his left thigh once more closely strapped, the 35-year-old was a person on a mission, expending as little power as attainable in a 2hrs 6mins romp to inch close by of Rafael Nadal’s slam file.
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He’ll meet fifth seed Andrey Rublev for a semi-final berth after the Russian toppled Danish teen Holger Rune in a tense five-set conflict on the identical court docket.
“I actually needed to win in straight units,” stated Djokovic, who will return to world primary for the primary time since June if he wins the event.
“Clearly you by no means know what’s going to occur on the court docket … I assumed first 4 or 5 video games have been fairly shut, however after one break within the first set I felt extra free and free to undergo the ball and be extra aggressive.
“I performed one of the best match of this yr thus far.”
Victory put him right into a thirteenth Melbourne quarter-final to maneuver fourth on the all-time record behind Roger Federer, Nadal and John Newcombe.
It’s his 54th Grand Slam quarter-final in whole — second solely to the retired Federer’s 58.
De Minaur, who recorded his first victory in opposition to a top-five participant in November when he beat Daniil Medvedev on the Paris Masters, was at all times dealing with an uphill climb.
Djokovic has not misplaced in Melbourne since 2018 — he didn’t play in 2022 — and has now gained 25 consecutive matches on the Australian Open.
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He at all times had the measure of the younger Australian and broke to like in recreation six, consolidating with out dropping some extent for 5-2.
With de Minaur struggling beneath the strain, he despatched a baseline forehand lengthy handy the Serb one other break and the set in simply 35 minutes.
Solely 54 % of De Minaur’s first serves went in in comparison with Djokovic’s 76 %, with the winners 9-1 in favour of the dominant Serb.
De Minaur gained the sixth recreation within the second set, ending a run of 9 consecutive losses, however it was solely a quick second of respite.
Djokovic stretched his hamstring on the changeover and instantly utilized strain once more on De Minaur’s first service recreation to interrupt once more within the third set, all however ending the match.
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