MELBOURNE, January 25
Novak Djokovic continued making his quest for a record-extending 10th Australian Open title look like a walk in the park by demolishing Andrey Rublev to reach the semifinals today.
The Serb, still wearing a thigh strapping but looking supreme, raced to a 6-1 6-2 6-4 victory with a performance that would have been uncomfortable viewing for American Tommy Paul.
Unseeded Paul won 7-6(6) 6-3 5-7 6-4 in an All-American quarterfinals clash against 20-year-old Ben Shelton to advance to the semis of a Major for the first time.
A disbelieving Magda Linette continued her dream Australian Open run by stunning former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova to set up a meeting with Aryna Sabalenka. Fifth seed Sabalenka, the only top-10 seed left in the women’s draw, earned her spot in the semis by outmuscling Donna Vekic 6-3 6-2 in a ferocious battle of big hitters on a baking Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic is making a mockery of the theory that the second week of Grand Slam tournaments get tougher.
In the last-16 stage he dropped five games against home hope Alex de Minaur and he was just as ruthless against Rublev as he made it 25 successive wins in succession at the Australian Open.
Fifth seed Rublev has now lost all seven Grand Slam quarterfinals which he contested.
“I would rank this as very close to the performance of two nights ago,” Djokovic said on court. “I’m playing very solid from the back of the court and really love these conditions. The scoreline maybe in the first two sets tonight didn’t show the reality of the match. But all the important moments I found my best tennis.”
Paul is only the third active American man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, joining John Isner (2018 Wimbledon) and Frances Tiafoe (2022 US Open) but will have to register a seismic shock if he is to go any further.
“I’m really excited, man. It’s really cool. I think it’s even cooler if I do play Novak,” the 25-year-old Florida-based Paul said after his victory.— Reuters
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