Despite injury scare, Novak Djokovic produced a sublime performance to beat Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 and book his quarter final ticket at the ongoing Australia Open Day 8.
The 35-year-old Serb defeated Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena (6-3, 6-4, 6-0), French qualifier Enzo Couacaud (6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-0) and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the No 27 seed (7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-4) earlier in the tournament.
Djokovic who is ranked No 5 on the ATP world rankings will face Russian Andrey Rublev, the No 5 seed, next.
It was also his 25th consecutive victory at the Australian Open which is the joint second longest streak of men’s singles at the tournament only behind Andre Agassi who had 26 winning streak.
Andrey Rublev saved too match points to defeat Holger Rune 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 in a five set thriller on Sunday.
The sixth-seeded Rublev looked to be cruising into the quarter-final after he went two sets to one up against rising star Rune, but the Dane stormed back to take it to a fifth set.
The fifth set itself was a back-and-forth tussle with both players saving match points before Rublev came from 5-0 down in the super tie-breaker to secure the victory.
He will face nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in the last eight after the former world No 1 humbled local hope Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.
Stefanos Tsitsipas passed a real test of his title-winning credentials Sunday at the Australian Open, where the third seed held firm in the face of a Jannik Sinner onslaught to clinch a thrilling 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 fourth-round victory.
The victory extended Tsitsipas’ ATP Head2Head series lead against Sinner to 5-1. The Greek, who will rise to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time should he lift the trophy in Melbourne, will next take on Jiri Lehecka as he bids for a third straight Australian Open semi-final appearance.
