Australian Open | Djokovic, Sabalenka and Gauff advance to the quarter-finals

(Melbourne) Novak Djokovic defeated Adrian Mannarino 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 on Sunday, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open while matching Roger Federer’s Grand Slam mark.

In a rare daytime match at Rod Laver Arena, the ten-time tournament champion hit 31 winners and scored the victory in 1 hour 44 minutes to advance to the quarters of a major tournament for a 58^e times, just like Federer.

Djokovic will take part in the round of eight for a 14^e time in Australia, tied for second place with Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe.

He now has an appointment with the American Taylor Fritz (12^e), who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (seventh) 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3 and 6-3. The Greek reached the final last year.

“I think I served well throughout the match and that kept me in the race,” analyzed Fritz, who scored his first victory against a player from top 10 during a Grand Slam tournament. Then at the end, when I really needed it, I reached another level by playing my best tennis to win. »

Djokovic, who had to work hard in the first two rounds, believes he has found his rhythm again.

“The first two rounds are among the best I have played in a while,” commented Djokovic, who is trying to win a 25^e Grand Slam tournament. I played well from the first to the last point. »

Mannarino (19^e), 25, avoided suffering the “triple bagel” – a defeat in three identical sets of 6-0 – in the third set, but he only postponed the inevitable.

Djokovic admitted he didn’t feel well in the first few rounds, but said he was getting better.

“The last few days have gone well,” he said. It’s going in the right direction, in terms of health and tennis. »

Sabalenka and Gauff pass

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and fourth seed Coco Gauff easily advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open tennis tournament on Sunday.

Sabalenka (second), who won her first Grand Slam tournament in Australia last year, defeated Amanda Anisimova (442^e) 6-3 and 6-2, while Gauff, who won her first major tournament at the US Open in September, defeated Magdalena Frech (69^e) 6-1 and 6-2.

Anisimova had won four of the last five duels against Sabalenka, but this time, the American had no answer to the power of the Belarusian, who hit 18 winning shots.

“I’m super happy with my level of play, happy to have gotten the victory. She’s a tough opponent,” Sabalenka said. I love the atmosphere here, I love playing in front of you. I really want to stay as long as possible and hope we can get [le titre] one more time. »

A forced break due to rain slowed Sabalenka’s momentum to 4-1. However, she quickly found her rhythm and distanced herself from her opponent in the second round.

She will now face 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva (47^e) or Barbora Krejcikova (11^e) in a round of eight.

Gauff, however, was the first woman to reach the quarters, winning in 63 minutes against Frech at Rod Laver Arena. Laver was also present in the stands.

“Luckily, when I saw him coming, I was already way ahead,” Gauff said. I heard applause and knew it wasn’t for us since it was only the first set. But thank you for coming, it’s an honor. »

Gauff will cross swords with Marta Kostyuk (37^e), who had the upper hand 6-2 and 6-1 against Maria Tomafeeva (170^e).