Novak Djokovic continued his remarkable run at the Australian Open, defeating world No. 6 Andrey Rublev in straight sets to advance to the semifinals. The 35-year-old Serbian displayed near-perfect tennis, securing a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory in just over two hours.
Djokovic’s current form is arguably the best of his career, having lost only 12 games in his last two matches. His 26-match winning streak at the Australian Open ties Andre Agassi’s record. Rublev, who endured a five-set battle against Holger Rune in the previous round, struggled against Djokovic’s dominance.
Broken in his third service game, Rublev never recovered, allowing Djokovic to move closer to his 10th Australian Open title and a record-equaling 22nd Grand Slam. Post-match, Djokovic expressed satisfaction with his performance, emphasizing his strong play from the baseline and his affinity for the court.
Despite some tight games, Djokovic praised Rublev as a tough opponent but noted that he executed his game plan effectively during critical moments. Djokovic also mentioned his rigorous efforts to recover from a leg issue, highlighting the importance of staying physically and mentally prepared.
Djokovic will now face American Tommy Paul, who reached his first Grand Slam semifinal, for a chance to compete in Sunday’s final. Acknowledging Paul’s recent form, Djokovic stressed the need to maintain focus and approach the match with the same intensity as his previous games.
Rublev, who jokingly suggested he preferred to face anyone but Djokovic in the quarterfinals, showed signs of fatigue and frustration early on. Djokovic’s relentless precision forced Rublev to fight hard for every point, breaking Rublev’s serve early in the match and securing the first set 6-1.
Though Rublev slightly improved in the second set, holding serve twice before being broken, Djokovic’s momentum was unstoppable. Djokovic’s occasional outbursts of frustration, likely due to the windy conditions, didn’t hinder his performance. He adapted to the challenges, holding his serve under pressure to take the second set.
In the third set, Rublev was broken immediately, and despite his efforts, he couldn’t prevent Djokovic from advancing. The Serbian continued his clinical performance, ending Rublev’s resistance and securing his place in his 10th Australian Open semifinal.