Novak Djokovic delivered a dominating quarter-final display to breeze past Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 and reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open, here on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Djokovic was taking on the highest-ranked opponent of his Melbourne campaign so far in World No. 6 Rublev, but he took command early and barely looked back in the pair's maiden Grand Slam meeting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The fourth seed nullified Rublev's powerful groundstrokes with typically resilient defence and hit cleanly through the ball from the baseline throughout, accelerating to a comfortable two-hour, three-minute victory on Rod Laver Arena.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Overall I think that the scoreline in the first two sets doesn't speak the truth or the reality of the match. It was some really close games that we had. Andrey is a great opponent, a great player. I've got tons of respect for him, one of the biggest forehands, one of the quickest players on the Tour," said Djokovic in his on-court interview.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"If I have to sum it up, all the important shots, the important moments I found my best tennis. So that's what makes me the most pleased tonight," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 35-year-old's performance appears to have quashed any doubts surrounding his left hamstring issue, which hampered him in his first three matches at Melbourne Park, as he chases a record-extending 10th Australian Open title.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Djokovic faces Tommy Paul, a 7-6(6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 winner in an all-American clash with Ben Shelton, in the Melbourne semi-finals as he bids to equal Rafael Nadal's record of 22 Grand Slam crowns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A title triumph Down Under would also see the 35-year-old return to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings for the first time since last June.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Wednesday's win, Djokovic not only improved his ATP Head to Head record against Rublev to 3-1, he also equalled Andre Agassi's Open Era record of 26 consecutive Australian Open men's singles match wins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Serbian is unbeaten at the Australian Open from the semi-finals onwards, having lifted the title on all nine occasions when he has reached the last four.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Wednesday's win, Djokovic not only improved his ATP Head to Head record against Rublev to 3-1, he also equalled Andre Agassi's Open Era record of 26 consecutive Australian Open men's singles match wins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n