Djokovic-Sabalenka in ruthless form to reach Australian Open quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic was at his dominant best in a straightsets demolition job to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals on Sunday with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff in equally ruthless touch The Serbian superstar recaptured his top form to surge into the last 16 after dropping sets in his opening two matches while ill and he stepped up another level against Adrian Mannarino The French 20th seed who at 35 is just a year younger than Djokovic has been enjoying a late career resurgence But he was taught a lesson by the world number one who won the first 13 games in powering through to the last eight of a Grand Slam for the 58th time equalling Roger Federers mens record I played great from the first to the last point said the defending champion who is redhot favourite to collect an 11th Melbourne title and a record 25th Grand Slam crown Its going in a positive direction healthwise tenniswise so Im really pleased with where I am at the moment He will face 12thseed Taylor Fritz next after the American beat last years runnerup Stefanos Tsitsipas 76 73 57 63 63 The times I have played him I havent brought my best level and you need to if you are going to complete with someone like Djokovic said Fritz of the Serb Djokovic almost always plays the night session on Rod Laver Arena but was bumped to the afternoon this time Thats because home hope Alex de Minaur seeded 10 is bidding to make the last eight for the first time with Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev standing in his way The winner will face inform fourth seed Jannik Sinner who blasted past last years semifinalist Karen Khachanov 64 75 63 and is yet to drop a setDefending womens champion Sabalenka has also been in imperious form and was in complete charge against unseeded Amanda Anisimova on Margaret Court Arena sweeping past the American 63 62Also Read Naomi Osaka vows not to mope after bittersweet Australian Open exitFourth seed Coco Gauff attempting to become the first woman to back up a US Open title with a Grand Slam win in Australia since Naomi Osaka in 20202021 has been almost as impressive She swatted aside Polands unseeded Magdalena Frech 61 62 in just 63 minutes on Rod Laver Arena with the 85yeartennis legend watching from the stands It was an honour to play in front of you so thank you for coming to my match said 19yearold Gauff who had never progressed beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park in four previous attempts First Aussie quarterfinal Super happy to be in this position and be here Its cool to get over that hump She will now meet Ukraines Marta Kostyuk who beat Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva 62 61 With seven of the womens top 10 seeds knocked out in the first week including world number one Iga Swiatek both Gauff and Sabalenka have a glorious chance to win their second major title They are on the same side of the draw and will not meet in the final with a potential lastfour clash looming instead Sabalenka has conceded just 11 games in four matches and is favoured to win another title to go with her breakthrough Grand Slam crown last year Should she go all the way the 25yearold will be the first woman to retain the title since compatriot Victoria Azarenka completed the feat in 2013 Im getting stronger because I enjoy the atmosphere and I really want to stay here as long as I can till the very last day she said Her next opponent will be ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova after she ended the dream run of Russian 16yearold Mirra Andreeva who beat sixth seed Ons Jabeur on her way to the fourth round Andreeva pushed the Czech player to three sets but ultimately could not find the killer blowWith agency inputs