Novak Djokovic put on another classy display at the Australian Open on Wednesday to rip through fifth seed Andrei Rublev 6-1 6-2 6-4 into the semi-finals at Melbourne Park where he will bid for a record-extending 10th title there, which would also be his 22nd Grand Slam title. Grand.
Djokovic fired Rublev’s forehand and second serve in turbulent conditions at Rod Laver Arena to take a 3-1 lead in the first set after a double fault from the fifth-seeded Russian on break point, and the Serbian star did not back down.
Djokovic showed how difficult it was to beat him, even though he was wrapping his thigh with compression tape due to a hamstring problem. He broke his opponent’s serve in the fifth game of the second set.
Djokovic saved a break point in the next game and let out a roar before moving on to double his advantage after getting frustrated with Rublev, who took his frustrations out on his coach in the stands after another double fault.
Djokovic pounced on his opponent early in the third set after Rublev ran out of tricks to set up a semi-final date with American Tommy Ball.