The Serb continued his pursuit of a 10th Australian Open title with a commanding victory over Alex de Minaur in Melbourne
9-time match winner Novak Djokovic will face Russia’s Andrey Rublev within the quarterfinals of the Australian Open after the Serb crushed native hero Alex de Minaur of their fourth-round match on Monday.
Djokovic shrugged off any lingering considerations over a hamstring harm as he overpowered the helpless De Minaur in straight units, 6-2 6-1 6-2, at Rod Laver Area. Quantity 22 seed De Minaur had little reply to Djokovic’s dominance because the Serb – seeded fourth this 12 months in Melbourne – gained six of the 12 break factors he manufactured on his rival’s serve with out going through any in return.
Djokovic, 35, was pressured to cope with a left hamstring harm in earlier rounds in Melbourne, and though his leg was once more closely strapped, the problem didn’t appear to trouble him as he put paid to native hopes – and the odd outbreak of heckling within the crowd – in scientific trend.
“Clearly I used to be coping with an harm, I don’t really feel something at present. I thank my medical workforce, my physio, I thank God. I don’t take something without any consideration, so let’s preserve it going,” Djokovic mentioned on court docket after his win.
“I’ve been taking plenty of capsules, it’s not very best… however not these type of capsules, guys, anti-inflammatory capsules. Actually at present was the perfect day to date and hopefully it stays that method.”
The Serb will now play fifth seed Rublev within the quarterfinals on Wednesday, after the Russian emerged from a five-set epic towards Danish teenager Holger Rune earlier on Monday.
Rublev, 25, admitted after that match that “nobody desires to face Novak” within the draw. The Russian has managed to win one of many pair’s three profession conferences thus far – on clay in Belgrade final 12 months – though Djokovic gained each their indoor hardcourt matches, most just lately on the ATP Finals in Turin final November.
For Rublev it is going to be a seventh look in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, and he has didn’t progress from any of his earlier six. Djokovic, in the meantime, is into the final eight of a Grand Slam for the 54th time and on the 13th event in Melbourne.
Djokovic has returned to Australia after his notorious deportation final 12 months in a row over his vaccine standing, which prevented him from defending his title at Melbourne Park. He has picked up the place he left off on court docket, successful the ATP 250 title in Adelaide earlier this month and now extending his unbeaten file on the Australian Open to a outstanding 25 matches.
Djokovic is chasing a 22nd Grand Slam title general, which might put him degree with Rafael Nadal on the high of the all-time record. Ought to he triumph in Melbourne, Djokovic would additionally change into solely the second participant alongside Nadal to win 10 or extra titles at a single Grand Slam – with Nadal successful 14 crowns on the clay courts of the French Open.