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Novak Djokovic has cranked up his Australian Open title cost, coolly dispatching fifth seed Andrey Rublev in straight units to achieve his 44th grand slam semi-final and 10th at Melbourne Park.
9-time champion Djokovic shook off any considerations about his lingering hamstring damage and gave brief shrift to hecklers as he comfortably beat the Russian 6-1 6-2 6-Four in two hours and three minutes on Rod Laver Area.
Two nights after Djokovic wiped the ground with Australian hope Alex de Minaur within the fourth spherical, the world No.5 left 25-year-old Rublev scrabbling for solutions in a one-sided contest.
“I might rank it as No.2 however very near the efficiency of two nights in the past,” Djokovic stated.
“I can’t be happier with my tennis, truthfully.
“I have been enjoying very solidly from the again of the court docket and actually love enjoying in these circumstances and this court docket.
“I’ve stated it many occasions, I really like enjoying right here. Positively essentially the most particular court docket for me.”
Djokovic will head into his semi-final as heavy favourite in opposition to unseeded American Tommy Paul, who beat compatriot Ben Shelton 7-6 (8-6) 6-Three 5-7 6-4.
Solely Roger Federer (46) has made extra grand slam semi-final appearances than 35-year-old Djokovic, who’s making an attempt to equal Rafael Nadal on 22 majors.
Djokovic, who missed final yr’s Open because of his deportation saga, is now on a 39-match profitable streak in Australia stretching again to 2018.
In beating world No.6 Rublev, Djokovic has now gained 22 of his previous 23 matches in opposition to top-10 opponents at Melbourne Park.
Rublev has now featured in seven grand slam quarter-finals with out reaching the semi-finals.
Djokovic by no means had his serve damaged and was solely actually bothered by a spectator’s constant heckling as he comfortably gained the primary set.
Rublev was lowered to pissed off screams on a number of events within the second set, the place he mounted extra of a problem however was nonetheless outclassed, with Djokovic changing his fifth set level to assert it.
The star Serb broke Rublev’s serve within the opening sport of the third set and carried on his merry approach from there.
-AAP
