Novak Djokovic was again to his ominous greatest Friday with a straight-sets romp into the Australian Open final 16 as Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner emphatically acknowledged their title credentials. US Open champion Coco Gauff additionally signalled her intent in a 6-0, 6-2 drubbing whereas 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva saved her dream run going with a fightback towards France’s Diane Parry. Another younger Russian, qualifier Maria Timofeeva, joined them within the fourth spherical by upsetting tenth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia and in doing so turned the lowest-ranked girl since 2017, at 170, to get up to now at Melbourne Park.

Ten-time champion Djokovic has not been at his greatest till now, dropping units in each of his opening matches, admitting he was feeling under-the climate.

But the Serbian famous person’s bid for a record-breaking twenty fifth Grand Slam crown acquired firmly again on observe towards thirtieth seed Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry with a routine 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) win on Rod Laver Arena.

“I think the best performance I had during this tournament,” he mentioned after his a hundredth Australian Open match, with solely Roger Federer (117) and Serena Williams (105) enjoying extra.

“I am pleased with the way I played through the entire match, particularly the first two sets.”

The world primary will face journeyman French twentieth seed Adrian Mannarino subsequent.

Fellow defending champion Sabalenka was unstoppable in a crushing 6-0, 6-0 canter over Twenty eighth-seed Lesia Tsurenko whereas Sinner dropped simply 4 video games in crushing Sebastian Baez.

Rejuvenated former teen prodigy Amanda Anisimova was additionally a winner on day six, ending Paula Badosa’s Grand Slam damage comeback 7-5, 6-4.

Anisimova, coming back from eight months on the sidelines resulting from burnout and psychological well being points, faces Sabalenka subsequent and must elevate her degree to face any likelihood.

The second seed, who received her maiden Grand Slam crown in Melbourne final 12 months, has dropped simply six video games over three dominant matches up to now.

– Even higher –

Wearing vivid crimson, she was within the zone towards Ukraine’s Tsurenko, racing house in simply 52 minutes.

“Last year (world number one) Iga (Swiatek) won so many sets 6-0 and this is one of the goals,” she mentioned. “I’m trying to get closer to her.

“I’m tremendous pleased with the extent I’m enjoying at up to now and hopefully I can maintain going like that and even higher.”

Fourth-seed Sinner came into the opening Grand Slam of the year after ending 2023 in the best form of his life.

He won his first Masters title in Toronto and reached the championship match at the ATP Finals, beating Djokovic in group play, before leading Italy to the Davis Cup title.

So far, he has lived up to expectations and is yet to drop a set, unlike the trio of players ahead of him in the rankings — defending champion Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.

“Generally, I’m enjoying rather well and feeling nice right here,” said Sinner, who will next play Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov.

Andreeva underlined her huge potential by crushing sixth seed Ons Jabeur in under an hour in round two and showed her grit to overcome Parry 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10/5).

Timofeeva’s stunning run continued with a 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 win over Brazil’s Haddad Maia, having already beaten former champion Caroline Wozniacki.

At 170 in the world and in her first Grand Slam, she is the lowest-ranked woman to get so far in Melbourne since Germany’s Mona Barthel seven years ago.

“It seems like a fairytale, however with the help of this superb crowd, I really feel like something is feasible,” she mentioned.

Fifth seed Andrey Rublev additionally received to arrange a showdown with house hope Alex de Minaur. Seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and twelfth seed Taylor Fritz each triumphed and can meet one another for a spot within the quarter-finals.

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