Melbourne (AFP)
Serbian Novak Djokovic, ranked first in the world, crushed Frenchman Adrian Mannarino and reached the quarter-finals with complete ease, in the Australian Open Tennis Championship, the first of the four major tournaments, similar to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and American Coco Gauff.
“Noli” regained his extraordinary level after losing a set in each of his opening matches, eliminating his opponent 6-0.6-0.6-3 in an hour and 44 minutes.
While Mannarino, 35 years old and ranked 19th in the world, who is a year younger than Djokovic, was going through a good period at the end of his career, the Serbian taught him a lesson after winning the first 13 games.
He reached the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the 58th time in his career, equaling the record of Swiss Roger Federer.
The defending champion, who is nominated to win his 11th title in Melbourne and set the record for major tournaments (25), said: “I played great, from the first point to the last.”
The player, who suffered a wrist injury before the tournament, continued: “Things are taking a positive turn, both health-wise and athletic-wise, so I’m really grateful for what’s happening to me now.”
He added in a press conference that “the fire is still burning” inside him, “which allows me to be here and achieve these achievements.”
Regarding his approach to winning with a white score in three “Triple Bagel” sets, the Serbian said: “I really wanted to lose that game in the third set, because the tension level rose on the court.”
He achieved his 32nd successive victory in the tournament, since his fall to South Korean Chung Hyun in 2018, noting that he did not participate in the “2022 edition” due to his refusal to receive the anti-coronavirus vaccine.
In the quarter-finals, Djokovic will face American Taylor Fritz, who eliminated Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded seventh, 7-6.5-7.6-3.6-3.
This loss may cost Tsitsipas, runner-up in the last edition, his position among the top ten in the world.
On the other hand, it was Fritz's first victory over a player among the top ten in a major tournament, but in eight matches, the American did not succeed in defeating Djokovic at any time.
Fritz said: “When I faced him previously, I was not at my best, and I must be if I want to beat him.”
While Djokovic often played night matches at Rod Laver Arena, he played Sunday early before noon.
Late local Alex Popyrin, seeded tenth and aspiring to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, plays against Russian Andrey Rublev, fifth.
Also in the fourth round, the brilliant Italian Jannik Sinner, seeded fourth, will face Russian Karen Khachanov, who reached the semi-finals last year.
For women, defending champion Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka performed at a similar level, when she manipulated American Amanda Anisimova and eliminated her 6-3,6-2 on Margaret Court Stadium.
“I feel stronger than last year,” Sabalenka said. “I hope to continue that way.”
Likewise, American Coco Gauff, ranked outstanding, gave a phenomenal performance against Polish Magdalena Frikh and eliminated her in 63 minutes 6-1,6-2 at Rod Laver Arena, “85 years old,” who watched the match from the stands.
If she is crowned, Gauff will be the first woman to win the Australian title, after being crowned at Flushing Meadows, her fourth major tournament, since Japanese Naomi Osaka in 2018-2019.
Gauff, 19, who skipped the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time after four attempts, addressed Laver, saying: “It is an honor for me to play in front of you. Thank you for coming to my match.”
The young American, who will face Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, who won over Russian Maria Timofeeva 6-2,6-1, continued, “The first quarter-final in Australia. I am very happy, and it is nice to overcome this bump.”
While seven of the first ten were eliminated, including the first Polish woman, Iga Szwiłtek, the opportunity will be available to both Sabalenka and Gauff to win her second major title.
They fell on the same side of the draw, and therefore they will not meet in the final, but rather in the semi-finals if they advance.
Sabalenka lost only 11 games in four matches, and she is a candidate for the title, continuing her remarkable rise starting last season.
If the 25-year-old is crowned, she will be the first woman to achieve this achievement since her compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
“She did not compete in the 2018 edition,” said Sabalenka, who became the first player to win 11 consecutive matches in Melbourne since American legend Serena Williams between 2017 and 2019. “I have become stronger because I enjoy the atmosphere and I really want to stay here longer until the last day.”
In the quarter-finals, she will meet 16-year-old Russian Maria Andreeva or ninth-ranking Czech Barbora Krajcikova.
If Andreeva continues her adventure, she will become the youngest player to reach the quarter-finals in Melbourne since Swiss Martina Hingis in 1997, a player to whom she has often been compared.
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