CNN
—
Novak Djokovic produced a stunning performance to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals with a 6-0 6-0 6-3 victory over France’s Adrian Mannarino on Sunday.
It is the 58th time the Serb has reached the last eight of a grand slam, equaling Roger Federer’s all-time record.
Djokovic, who is chasing a record-extending 25th grand slam title, had faced tough tests in the opening two rounds of this tournament, dropping a set in each, but has ominously found his rhythm as the second week approaches.
“The first two sets [were some] of the best sets I’ve played in a while,” the Serb said afterwards, per the ATP Tour.
As Djokovic raced through the first two sets without dropping a game, he seemed on course for a rare triple bagel – which would have been the first of its kind at the Australian Open and first at any grand slam since 1993 – but Mannarino, who could only laugh at the end of the second set, finally won a game in the third.
“I really wanted to lose that game in the third set, because the tension was building up so much in the stadium,” Djokovic said. “I just needed to get that one out of the way so I can refocus on what I needed to do to close out the match.”
He will now face Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals after the American shocked last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(3) 5-7 6-3 6-3 in their fourth round match.
“The last three games of the match I really, really turned it on, almost like [I] was in a trance and everything,” Fritz said afterwards, according to the tournament’s website.