Novak Djokovic can take a step closer to equalling Rafael Nadal’s men’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles when he faces Andrey Rublev tonight (7.30pm AEDT) for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals.
The 35-year-old Serb is hot favourite to win a 10th Melbourne crown and with his hamstring seemingly recovered he will take some stopping.
He called his three-set mauling of Australian 22nd seed Alex de Minaur on Monday his best match of the year so far.
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Stefanos shoots his shot for Aussie star | 01:02
“Tonight, the way I played, the way I felt, gives me reason now to believe that I can go all the way,” he warned afterwards.
Djokovic is the only man left in a depleted draw to have won a Grand Slam before.
But even with his left hamstring much improved, Russian fifth seed Rublev will be no pushover.
The 25-year-old showed all his battling qualities to save two match points against talented Danish teenager Holger Rune in the last 16, scrapping his way to victory in five dogged sets.
“I know that Novak is a very tough player to beat, especially in the Slams,” said Rublev, who has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam.
The other men’s quarter-final is an all-American affair between two unseeded players, Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul.
The 20-year-old Shelton is on his first trip outside the United States and is enjoying every minute of the ride.
“Each match that I’ve won here has felt the same — it’s a mixture of joy, relief,” said Shelton, who a year ago was at the University of Florida and ranked 569 in the world.
Now he is 89th.
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The first semi-final has already been confirmed, with third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas facing Russian 18th seed Karen Khachanov.
In the women’s quarter-finals, Aryna Sabalenka will look to step up her title charge with a match against unseeded Donna Vekic of Croatia.
The women’s draw has also been decimated after a series of shocks and Sabalenka looks the clear favourite.
The fifth seed from Belarus is yet to drop a set as she zeroes in on a first Grand Slam title.
The other quarter-final on Wednesday is between former world number one Karolina Pliskova and unseeded Magda Linette of Poland.
Two-time Melbourne champion Victoria Azarenka will face Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals on Thursday.
FEUD OVER? TOMIC’S KIND WORDS FOR KYRGIOS
Is the long-running feud between Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic over? A message sent by the latter this week certainly suggests so.
Tomic, who failed to qualify for this year’s tournament, reached out after Kyrgios’ knee surgery this week in a move that seemed to be appreciated by Australia’s top-ranked star.
Tomic said on Instagram: “Despite our differences we go way back. Wish (Nick Kyrgios) a quick recovery. Hope to see him back on the circuit soon,” Tomic wrote.
Kyrgios, who withdrew a day out from his opening Australian Open match because of the issue, replied “cheers bruh”.
Kyrgios underwent an arthroscopic procedure to clean up his lateral meniscus and remove a cyst.
The pair — once good friends and David Cup teammates — have been in a war of words for several years, with Tomic even challenging Kyrgios to a celebrity boxing match last year.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 10 – ORDER OF PLAY (All times AEDT)
Quarter-finals
Rod Laver Arena
11am
[30] Karolína Plíšková (CZE) vs Magda Linette (POL)
Not before 1pm
[5] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) vs Donna Vekic (CRO)
Not before 2.30pm
Ben Shelton (USA) vs Tommy Paul (USA)
Night session from 7.30pm
[5] Andrey Rublev (RUS) vs [4] Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Recap the Australian Open in the blog below!
