After the rollercoaster ride that was Novak Djokovic’s first week at the Australian Open, the nine-time champion is through to the quarter-finals with a statement performance of unerring authority. In thrashing Alex De Minaur, the last home hope in Melbourne, 6-2 6-1 6-2 in just over two hours, the Serbian has gone from appearing vulnerable to exuding a more familiar aura of invincibility. The Australian fans had arrived at the Rod Laver Arena with hopes of a famous win and a raucous night, but Djokovic crushed those dreams with a ruthless fist.
Afterwards, the question was not how he had dismantled De Minaur with astonishing ease, but why. “Because I wanted to,” Djokovic responded, chuckling. It was an ominous warning and from the unease and uncertainty caused by a troublesome and painful hamstring injury, the 35-year-old produced his best display of the tournament so far, reaching a level that will send a shiver down the spines of those who join him in the quarter-finals.
