Djokovic dropped solely three video games in his march to quarters, whereas Sabalenka has dropped 11 video games in 4 matches.
In a Grand Slam that has seen a number of top-ranked gamers drop out within the first three rounds, defending champions Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka have dodged upsets to achieve the Australian Open quarterfinals with no main blip.
Djokovic was ruthless in a 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino on Sunday as he entered his 58th Grand Slam quarterfinal to match Roger Federer’s all-time Grand Slam document.
In a uncommon daytime look on Rod Laver Area, the 10-time Australian Open champion hit 31 winners and raced to victory in 1 hour and 44 minutes.
Djokovic is into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 14th time, which is equal second on the all-time listing with Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe. The distinction is that he has transformed most of these quarterfinal runs into titles at Melbourne Park.
He’ll face Taylor Fritz, who reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the primary time with a 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas, final yr’s runner-up.
In the meantime, the ruthless ladies’s world quantity two, Aryna Sabalenka, warned that she is stronger now than when she gained her maiden Grand Slam in Melbourne as her imposing march in direction of one other title gathered steam.
The Belarusian was in whole management in opposition to unseeded American Amanda Anisimova on Margaret Courtroom Area, blazing dwelling 6-3, 6-2 in 70 minutes.
Sabalenka has dropped a scant 11 video games in her 4 matches and, with high seed Iga Swiatek out of the match, is the clear favorite to win a second Grand Slam.
Ought to she achieve this, she would be the first girl to retain the title since compatriot Victoria Azarenka accomplished the feat in 2013.
“I feel I really feel stronger than final yr. To this point I really feel good. Hopefully, I simply can stick with it,” stated the 25-year-old, who has embraced her standing as reigning champion in Melbourne.
“I’m getting stronger as a result of I benefit from the ambiance and I actually wish to keep right here so long as I can, until the final day.”
Final yr’s US Open champion Coco Gauff has saved up with the 2 singles favourites after racing previous unseeded Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-2 in simply 63 minutes on Rod Laver Area as she zeroes in on a second Grand Slam title.
Gauff stated she was having fun with “studying maturity” after displaying poise and willpower to storm into her first Australian Open quarterfinal.
The match’s high seed amongst ladies Iga Swiatek misplaced 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Czech teenager Linda Noskova within the third spherical on Saturday.
Swiatek’s 4 Grand Slam titles and 18-match successful streak had been no assist in opposition to the big-hitting teen.
However pedigree and previous efficiency appear to imply little to nothing at Melbourne Park to date this yr, organising a closing week that encompasses a bunch of latest gamers and storylines.
Aside from Swiatek, the opposite seeded gamers to depart the Grand Slam are Elena Rybakina (3), Jessica Pegula (5), Ons Jabeur (6) and Marketa Vondrousova (7).
In males’s draw, seeded gamers resembling Ben Shelton (16), Holger Rune (8) and Casper Ruud (11) have additionally dropped out earlier than the last-eight stage.
Briton Andy Murray was a first-round sufferer, together with returning former champion Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki.
