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Novak Djokovic
Photo: MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP
Tennis star Novak Djokovic reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in Melbourne with a show of force.
The 35-year-old Serb outclassed the overwhelmed Australian Alex de Minaur in a highly one-sided round of 16 match and easily won 6:2, 6:1, 6:2 after just 2:06 hours.
Unlike the previous two rounds, Djoković's thigh seemed to cause significantly fewer problems.
Because of Djoković's injury and the strong performance of number 22 de Minaur, the Australian fans had hoped for a surprise - but that hope was quickly dashed in the Rod Laver Arena.
Djoković was wide awake from the start, physically fit and superior in almost every respect.
De Minaur lacked the quality for a coup against the tournament favorite, who is only three wins away from the 22nd Grand Slam tournament victory.
Djoković would draw level with record holder Rafael Nadal in the final on January 29.
On Wednesday, Djoković, who has been undefeated in 25 games at the Australian Open, will initially fight Russia's Andrey Rublev to reach the semifinals.
Rublev had previously knocked out Holger Rune and reached his second quarterfinal at Melbourne Park.
With a lucky net roller at match point, he ended an exciting 6:3, 3:6, 6:3, 4:6 7:6 (11:9).
The fifth-seeded Russian bounced back from a 5-2 deficit in the final set at the Rod Laver Arena, and Zwei saved two match points before a final 10-point tie-break that was hard to beat in excitement.
Rublev fell 5-0 down in the tiebreak but fought back to take a 9-7 lead before the ninth seed Rune saved two match points in another late stage.
Then Rublev's final return grazed the net and fell to the 19-year-old Dane's side.
mfu/Reuters/dpa
