Novak Djokovic continued his dominant run at the 2024 Australian Open, easily dispatching Adrian Mannarino in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals and tie Roger Federer’s record of 58 Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances.
Overwhelming Victory Cements Djokovic as Title Favorite
The top-seeded Djokovic dismantled Mannarino 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 in just an hour and 56 minutes, winning the first 13 games of the match.
Djokovic was ruthlessly efficient, hitting 20 winners to just 14 unforced errors and winning 93% of points on his first serve. He faced just one break point in the entire match.
“I came out with the right intensity, with the right focus,” Djokovic said.
Mannarino, ranked 68th, had no answers for Djokovic’s precise power and accuracy. The Frenchman laughed in disbelief as Djokovic continued to paint the lines in the second and third sets.
“He was too good for me today,” Mannarino said. “I tried different things but nothing worked.”
The win reaffirmed Djokovic as the clear favorite to claim his 10th Australian Open crown. The Serb has not dropped a set through four rounds while top seeds like Casper Ruud and Rafael Nadal have already fallen.
| Result | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic def. Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 | Djokovic Match Stats: 20 Winners 14 Unforced Errors 93% 1st Serve Points Won 76% 2nd Serve Points Won 5/6 Break Points Converted |
Quarterfinal Berth Ties Federer’s Grand Slam Record
In reaching the last eight, Djokovic tied Federer’s Open Era record of 58 Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances.
It is a testament to Djokovic’s supreme consistency and longevity at the highest level. The 36-year-old has now reached at least the quarterfinals in 15 of his 16 Australian Open appearances, missing out only during his first visit in 2006.
Federer congratulated Djokovic for matching his record, tweeting:
“Congrats Novak on yet another great achievement! Reaching 58 quarterfinals is an incredible effort and mark of longevity and consistency over nearly two decades at the top of our sport.”
Djokovic could break Federer’s record outright if he reaches the semifinals or better at Roland Garros later this year.
No Plans to Retire Anytime Soon
In an on-court interview after the match, Djokovic reiterated that he has no imminent plans to retire from tennis despite his age.
“I still have the motivation and passion to compete with youngsters,” he told Jim Courier. “As long as I’m healthy, I don’t feel like stopping right now or in the next couple of years.”
Djokovic’s challengers continue to fall by the wayside in Melbourne as he marches towards another title. And with his physique and vegan diet allowing him to maintain a supreme level of fitness and flexibility, retirement still seems a distant concept right now.
“I’m blessed to be able to perform at this level at this stage of my career,” Djokovic added. “I love the sport, I love competing, so let’s keep it going.”
Quarterfinal Showdown Against Rublev Awaits
In the quarterfinals, Djokovic will take on fifth seed Andrey Rublev, who defeated Danish youngster Holger Rune in four sets earlier on Sunday.
It will pit an all-time great against one of the sports rising stars. The 25-year-old Rublev has won 6 ATP titles over the last two seasons and reached a career high ranking of #5.
But Djokovic holds a perfect 5-0 record against Rublev, including a straight sets win in their only Grand Slam meeting at last year’s French Open.
The Serb will be heavily favored to make that 6-0 on Tuesday night. However, he was adamant that he would not take Rublev lightly.
“I respect Andrey a lot for the player he has become,” Djokovic noted. “He deserves to be where he is and I know I’ll have to be at my very best if I’m to beat him.”
Their quarterfinal clash is scheduled in the night session on Rod Laver Arena. The winner would likely face third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals, as the Greek star holds a commanding lead against Jiri Lehecka heading into the fourth set of their fourth round match.
So Djokovic remains four victories away from Grand Slam title #22 as his quest for the elusive calendar year Grand Slam stays alive once more. But the world #1 is focused squarely on his next task at hand.
“It’s Rublev next for me,” Djokovic stated. “That’s all I’m thinking about for now.”
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