Novak Djokovic will try and seal his spot in a mind-blowing forty fourth grand slam semi-final when he headlines the quarter-final motion at Melbourne Park.
The Serb is in a stratosphere of his personal forward of his Australian Open quarter-final conflict with Andrey Rublev: unbeaten in 38 matches in Australia and chasing a tenth semi-final look, then title, at his favoured slam.
To stand in Djokovic’s approach, Rublev should break new floor of his personal: making it to a slam semi-final for the primary time.
The Russian has appeared in six slam quarter-finals, together with in Melbourne in 2021, however is but to take the subsequent step.
With Djokovic seemingly shaking off considerations over his troublesome left hamstring, that is simpler mentioned than performed.
“I know that Novak is a very tough player to beat, especially on the slams,” Rublev instructed reporters.
“He has the best experience to win these kind of matches. He’s one of the best in history.
“The solely probability I’ve is that if I play my greatest tennis, simply struggle for each ball, and that is it. That’s the one probability.”
At the other end of the experience spectrum to Djokovic is American student Ben Shelton.
Shelton, whose coach and father is former professional player Bryan Shelton, is playing his first overseas slam while juggling his first year at college.
“It possibly has helped me just a little bit, type of not having that expectation or the sensation that I’ve to carry out, however having the ability to simply go on the market, be myself and play free,” he mentioned.
“I believe that is been an enormous contribution to my success.”
Fellow American Tommy Paul plans to do some studying of his own before taking on Shelton.
“This will in all probability be the primary time that I’ll have to look at some movie on my opponent on this complete event up to now,” he said.
Meanwhile women’s fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka is daring to dream as she eyes her own breakthrough.
“I would like consider that the best way I’m working proper now, the best way I’m on the courtroom proper now, that is the brand new starting, and that is the subsequent step,” she said.
The Belarusian’s imposing form isn’t fazing Croatian opponent Donna Vekic.
“I’ve learn, in fact, on Twitter that she’s taking part in possibly the perfect tennis on the ladies’s facet this Australian Open,” Vekic mentioned.
“I’ve an important head-to-head along with her. All of our matches have been actually powerful, so I’m positive subsequent one can be as effectively.”
No.30 seed Karolina Pliskova hasn’t dropped a set in Melbourne and the 2019 semi-finalist will hope to keep away from changing into the newest sufferer of event giant-killer Magda Linette.
