Tournament favorite Novak Djokovic stormed into the quarterfinals at the Australian Open with a show of force. The Serb defeated Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 in just 1:44 hours of play on Sunday and is getting better and better on his way to defending his title in Melbourne.
“I played well, from start to finish,” said Djokovic, who appeared to have recovered well from a small infection: “The last few days have been really good, things are going in the right direction – in terms of health and sport.”
The ten-time tournament champion’s next opponent is the American Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals. The world number 12 eliminated last year’s Greek finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 7:6 (7:3), 5:7, 6:3, 6:3.
“You need your best level against Djokovic. But I’m confident and have a chance,” said Fritz, who is in the last eight for the first time in Melbourne. “It will be hard, there will be no easy matches anymore,” said Djokovic.
Co-favorite Jannik Sinner also confidently made it to the quarter-finals. The Italian Davis Cup champion beat the Russian Karen Khachanow 6:4, 7:5, 6:3, even without the support of his noble fans “Carota Boys”, who left on Sunday morning, and will now face local hero Alex de Minaur or the Russian Andrei Rublew. “I’ll go into the game with a smile and enjoy it,” Sinner said.