Australian Open: Djokovic Qualifies for Q’finals

Top seed Novak Djokovic moved ominously into the Australian Open quarter-finals with a ruthless thrashing of French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino.

Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, claimed a dominant 6-0 6-0 6-3 win in one hour and 44 minutes.

“The first two sets were the best I have played in a while,” Djokovic said.

The 36-year-old will face 12th seed Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals after the American beat last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Later on Sunday, Italy’s Jannik Sinner secured his last-eight spot with a 6-4 7-5 6-3 win over world number 15 Karen Khachanov.

Sinner is one of the favourites to challenge Djokovic in Melbourne.

He will take on fifth seed Andrey Rublev next after the Russian prevailed in a gruelling five-set tussle to knock out Alex de Minaur and end Australia’s hopes of a home singles champion.