Novak Djokovic
is clear about what he wants to achieve in Melbourne: win his 11th title at the
Australian Open
, lift his 25th “big” trophy - to break the tie with
Margaret Court
and become the top absolute winner in that category - and give the first step towards conquering the coveted and unprecedented
Golden Slam
.
And with that triple objective in his sights, the Serbian continues to add victories on the Australian cement, continues to destroy rivals and, at the same time, breaking records that increasingly enlarge his statistics and his legend.
With the overwhelming 6-0, 6-0 and 6-3 that he signed against the Frenchman
Adrian Mannarino
, 19th in the ranking, to get among the eight best of this edition of the oceanic tournament, Nole reached the quarterfinals for the 58th time of a Grand Slam.
Thus, he equaled the record for the most appearances in that instance in the Open Era, which until Sunday was held, alone, by the Swiss
Roger Federer
, another living legend of tennis.
Third - and quite far away - is
Rafael Nadal
, with 47.
The world number one also became the first player since the
ATP
ranking was established in 1973, to win the first two sets of a match against an opponent in the top 20 in a "big" match in "0".
And the first since 2015 to lose three or fewer games to a player ranked among the top 20 in the world rankings, also in a match at a tournament of this level.
Who had been the last to achieve it?
Himself, when he beat the Croatian
Martin Cilic
6-0, 6-1 and 6-2 in the semis of the
US Open
, just over eight years ago.
Yes, the level that Djokovic has been showing since last season (and even before) is so overwhelming that he has already begun to break his own records.
And it is not difficult to understand why: as he himself acknowledged, celebrating achievements like the ones he achieved thanks to the beating he gave to Mannarino at the
Rod Laver Arena
is today one of his greatest motivations.
“Winning Majors, breaking records and staying at the top of tennis are goals that always motivate me, without a doubt.
Also the love for sports.
I really love tennis, I am passionate about competing with the best in the world.
The fact of having a break point for or against still excites me, that continues to awaken very deep emotions in me,” she commented.
And he stated that even though he has already won (almost) everything a tennis player can win - an Olympic medal is the only achievement that remains elusive - he still lives tennis with the same intensity.
A magic moment for @AdrianMannarino 🇫🇷
RLA is rocking.
#AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis#Kia • #MakeYourMove • @Kia_Worldwide pic.twitter.com/X1nuFxjT6i
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2024
“I thought that this year I would feel a little more relaxed or at least a little less tense or stressed during training, but that's not the case.
I feel like I always felt.
You could see even against Mannarino, I had the match completely under control and as soon as I had a complicated game, I started arguing with my boxer.
I'm still always looking to give the best performance possible and when I don't get it, I get frustrated," he reflected.
And he added: "The internal fire, which allowed me to achieve everything I achieved and become the player I am, is still burning. And I continue to enjoy the process. I no longer play for money or points, just because I want to play and because "I enjoy the competition. But I don't think that as long as I'm still on the circuit, I will be able to go out on the field relaxed and enjoy it. It wouldn't be me," he reflected.
Djokovic - who was improving his tennis and physical level as he progressed in Melbourne - will seek a place in the semifinals against an opponent who is in great shape,
Taylor Fritz
, 12th seed.
Djokovic will go to the semis against Fritz.
Photo Anthony WALLACE / AFP
The 26-year-old American beat the Greek
Stefanos Tsitsipas
(6th seed and finalist of the competition last year) in the quarterfinals by 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-3 and 6-3 and scored the first victory of his career against a top 10. Until Sunday, he had a record of 0-11 against rivals in that group.
Now, he will go for the big blow against the Serbian, to break another long negative streak.
Fritz has eight defeats in the same number of games against
Nole
.
What's more, seven of those falls were in straight sets.
He was only able to steal two games from him in the match they played in the third round of Australia 2021, in which the Serbian won 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 3-6, 4-6 and 6 -2.
Fritz, too, did not give up and, confident in the great victory he achieved against Tsitsipas, he was excited about taking the hit.
"In the last games against Stefanos I felt in a kind of trance because I was able to do almost anything on the court and always make the right decision. I flowed through the court at all times. It had been a long time since I felt something like that. And It's fantastic because it gives me enormous confidence," analyzed the North American.
These two saved the best for last! @Taylor_Fritz97 breaks Stefanos Tsitsipas in a frantic, fantastic final game to take the match 7-6(3) 5-7 6-3 6-3.
It's the American's first win over a top 10 player at a Grand Slam!#AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/UkTsattSsD
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2024
And about the duel against
Nole
, he warned: "It is logical that he has enormous confidence when he faces me, taking into account that he beat me the eight times we played. But I feel that the conditions here are much more favorable for me than in the scenarios in which we played the last matches. Now I have much more to offer against Djokovic," he warned.
The number one did not want to trust himself either, beyond the favorable record against his next rival: “More battles are coming.
From now on, the level goes up, the opponents will be very tough, like Fritz, and there will not be an easy game,” the Serbian warned.
Although knowing that he has that triple objective between his eyebrows and because of the lethal tennis he showed against Mannarino - and also in the previous round against Tomás Etcheverry - it is difficult to imagine him bowing down against the American in Melbourne.