Novak Djokovic was ruthless in a 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino on Sunday, reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals and matching Roger Federer‘s all-time Grand Slam document.
In a uncommon daytime look at Rod Laver Area, the 10-time Australian Open champion hit 31 winners and raced to victory in 1 hour, 44 minutes to progress to the final eight for the 58th time at a serious, equaling Federer’s mark. His 93rd match win on the Australian Open additionally broke a tie with Serena Williams for second amongst gamers within the Open period (Federer, 102).
Djokovic is into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 14th time, which ranks second on the all-time listing with Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe. The distinction is that Djokovic has transformed most of these quarterfinal runs into titles at Melbourne Park.
He’ll subsequent face American participant Taylor Fritz, who on Sunday reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the primary time with a 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, the runner-up right here final yr.
Djokovic, 36, who labored in his first two rounds, believes he’s beginning to hit his stride.
“The primary two units had been among the finest units I’ve performed shortly,” mentioned Djokovic, who’s bidding for a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam singles title. “I performed nice from the primary to the final level.”
The Serbian participant added, in jest: “I actually needed to lose that recreation within the third set as a result of the strain was constructing within the stadium.”
The 35-year-old Mannarino prevented a so-called triple-bagel — solely 5 Grand Slam matches within the Open period have been received 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 — however he was solely suspending the inevitable.
Djokovic has admitted to feeling unwell in current rounds however mentioned his well being is bettering.
“Final couple of days has been actually good,” he mentioned. “It is stepping into a constructive path, health-wise, tennis-wise.”
Fritz is 0-8 in opposition to Djokovic however mentioned, “I feel that I’ve much more stage to convey than I’ve beforehand introduced in opposition to him. Hopefully I can play one other match like at the moment.”
The win over Tsitsipas was his first in opposition to a top-10 participant in a serious.
“I feel I served properly, the entire match, it stored me in it,” he mentioned. “After which on the very finish after I actually wanted it, I really feel like I simply, I turned it up a stage and began enjoying my very best tennis to complete it.”
Additionally Sunday, fourth-seeded Jannik Sinner, who had two wins over Djokovic in November, superior 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 over No. 15 Karen Khachanov.
Two massive factors from Khachanov — a between-the-legs winner as he chased a ball towards the baseline within the third set and a forehand to complete off a 33-shot rally within the second — delighted the gang however did not unnerve Sinner, who hit 46 winners and saved 9 of the ten break factors he confronted.
Sinner will play a quarterfinal in opposition to Andrey Rublev after the No. 5 seed rallied to beat No. 10 Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
