Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic reach the quarterfinals

On Monday, Novak Djokovic won his “best match of the year” and advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals. Aryna Sabalenka also triumphed with similar ruthlessness. After several surprises at Melbourne Park, normalcy was mostly restored on day eight, with the exception of Caroline Garcia, the fourth seed, who withdrew due to pressure. Djokovic defeated Alex de Minaur in five games or less to advance to the round of eight and advance his quest for a record-tying 10th Melbourne victory and 22nd major championship overall.

For a spot in the semi-finals, he will play fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev, who defeated Danish teenager Holger Rune in a thrilling five-set match at Rod Laver Arena.

The Serb made a menacing declaration of intent with his 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 victory against home favourite and 22nd-seeded De Minaur. Notably, his ailing left hamstring appeared to have made significant progress.

When asked why he had been so forceful, Djokovic responded, “Because I wanted to.

“I’m sad you didn’t see a longer match, but I can’t say I’m sorry. I was definitely hoping for a straight-set victory.

The 35-year-old hailed it as his “best match of the year so far” and said of his hamstring: “Today was great. I didn’t feel anything.”

After defending against Rune in the sweltering heat and saving two match points, Rublev said he was “fortunate.”

The 19-year-beating, old’s according to him, was “It seems more like someone has put a pistol to your head than a rollercoaster. Rollercoasters are simpler.”

A duel between two unseeded Americans will take place in the men’s last eight in a men’s draw that has been devastated by upsets, including the second-round exit of defending champion Rafael Nadal.

On his first tour outside of America, 20-year-old Ben Shelton defeated friend and fellow American JJ Wolf in another five-set match.

Shelton is just the fourth man to make it all the way to the quarterfinals in Melbourne in the last 20 years.

Shelton, who is now ranked 89th, stated, “I really focused in the fifth set, just being enthusiastic, believing my fitness and just hustling, being courageous and I think I did a really nice job of competing at the top level in the fifth set.”

He will face Tommy Paul, who overcame Roberto Bautista Agut, the 24th seed.

Garcia: “Not comfortable”

Garcia, the most recent top-10 seed to lose in the women’s draw, was shocked by Magda Linette, who is ranked 45 in the world.

Sabalenka never really gave off the impression that she would leave the first major of the year after top seed Iga Swiatek, Garcia, and the others.

The two women to beat right now are American Jessica Pegula, the third-seeded player, and Belarusian Sabalenka, who are both vying for their first major titles.

Belinda Bencic, the 12th seed and a dangerous player, was defeated by Sabalenka 7-5, 6-2 to set up a matchup with Donna Vekic, the 16th seed who defeated Linda Fruhvirtova in three sets.

Hard-hitting It took Sabalenka her entire life to realize that bad feeling won’t assist you on the court, she declared as she raced into the Australian Open quarterfinals.

“You just have to keep going, keep believing, and do everything you can,” she said.