BRISBANE, Australia — Novak Djokovic’s bid for a one hundredth ATP Tour title gained momentum Thursday because the Serb thumped fellow veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 to succeed in the Brisbane Worldwide quarterfinals.
The 37-year-old Djokovic, who’s seeking to be part of Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109) as gamers who’ve reached the milestone, breezed by the primary set on the again of a solitary break within the fourth recreation.
Djokovic by no means regarded again from there as he powered by the second set to increase his win-loss file in opposition to the French participant to 20-0, almost 20 years after their first encounter within the opening spherical of the 2005 US Open.
“We have been taking part in for a few years,” mentioned Djokovic, who will probably be gunning for an eleventh Australian Open title when the season’s opening Grand Slam begins later this month.
“I’ve identified Gael since I used to be 15. We performed fairly a bit at juniors and on Tour and have had a superb rating in opposition to him, however we have now had some unbelievable battles. He is probably the greatest, if not the most effective, athlete in our sport through the years.”
Djokovic subsequent takes on big-serving American Reilly Opelka as he steps up his preparations for a twenty fifth Grand Slam title on the Jan. 12-26 Australian Open.
Opelka bought previous Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (9), 7-6 (4), whereas Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, one other participant who can blow away his opponents with booming serves, upset fourth seed Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 7-6 (4).
Czech 19-year-old Jakub Mensik earlier mowed down Serbian fortunate loser Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-2.
Within the girls’s occasion, reigning US Open and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will goal to defeat Yulia Putintseva and attain the final eight.
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, who overcame a shoulder harm that ended her 2024 season early, dug deep to beat Armenia’s Elina Avanesyan 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 and attain her first tour quarterfinal because the Berlin Open in June.
It was the top of the highway for third seed Daria Kasatkina, who fell to a 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 defeat in opposition to fellow Russian Polina Kudermetova, whereas their compatriot Mirra Andreeva eased previous Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-0.
Double Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka additionally crashed out after the Belarusian was crushed 6-4, 6-4 by Czech Marie Bouzkova.
