Novak Djokovic reaches quarter-finals with ruthless victory

Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2024 Australian Open with a commanding victory over French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino. The top seed, eyeing a record-extending 11th men’s singles title in Melbourne and a 25th Grand Slam overall, dominated with a 6-0 6-0 6-3 win in just one hour and 44 minutes.

Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic stated, “The first two sets were the best I have played in a while.” The 36-year-old is set to face 12th seed Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals, who secured his spot by defeating last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Djokovic was on the verge of making history by potentially becoming the first player to win all three sets without dropping a game at a Grand Slam since 1993. Although Mannarino managed to secure a game in the third set, breaking Djokovic’s flawless run, the Serbian joked, “I really wanted to lose that game because the tension was building up in the stadium.”

Having dropped sets in the earlier rounds and contending with an illness, Djokovic found his form against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round. Against Mannarino, he prevailed in long rallies, showcasing his resilience on the court.

If Djokovic clinches an 11th title in Melbourne, he will surpass Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam wins. Despite recent health struggles, Djokovic expressed optimism, saying, “The last couple of days have been really good. It is going in a positive direction health-wise and tennis-wise, so I am really pleased with where I am at the moment. All in all, a great performance.”

Up next for Djokovic is Taylor Fritz, who secured his first Australian Open quarter-final berth by defeating Tsitsipas. Fritz and Djokovic had previously met in the 2021 Australian Open’s third round, with Djokovic emerging victorious in five sets. Djokovic holds a perfect record against Fritz, having won all eight of their previous encounters, including a straight-set victory at the 2023 US Open.