Novak Djokovic once again demonstrated his mastery of the game as he defeated fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. The Serbian, playing with a heavily strapped thigh, served a masterclass, winning 6-1 6-2 6-4.
From the first set, Djokovic played with authority, targeting Rublev’s weaker backhand and breaking early at 3-1. The Russian did show flashes of brilliance, as he had in his previous match against Danish teenager Holger Rune, but the class of Djokovic simply proved too overpowering.
In the second set, Djokovic found himself in a bit of trouble as he was forced to save a breakpoint. However, the nine-time champion at the Rod Laver Arena used his experience to not only save the point but take the set as well. After the set, he let out a huge roar, indicating his strong desire to go the distance yet again.
With the quarter-final win, Djokovic is now 26 games unbeaten in the tournament, with the streak stretching back to 2018. He missed the last tournament, otherwise the record could have been even more impressive. The Serb will now face American Tommy Paul in the semi-finals, marking his 10th appearance in the last four at Melbourne Park, a record only beaten by Roger Federer (15) and Jack Crawford (11).
