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It was brutal, but breathtaking in its ruthlessness, and during an Australian Open blighted by late finishes, all wrapped up in just over two hours.
Key points:
- Djokovic only lost five games in his thrashing of Alex de Minaur
- He says he feels he can "go all the way" and win the men's championship
- De Minaur says Djokovic is his tip to win the final
Novak Djokovic's straight-sets mauling of Alex de Minaur on Monday evening showed that even under an injury cloud the nine-time champion is a clear favourite to again lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup with victory in the men's final.
He bossed de Minaur around the court at will during the 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 triumph on Rod Laver Arena, nullifying the young Australian's strengths.
Despite again wearing strapping on his left hamstring, Djokovic moved freely around the court and was not restricted as he appeared to be in his earlier matches this tournament.
This has led to speculation the leg injury may not be as bad as Djokovic has made it out to be, given he has never been shy of creating dramatic moments in matches where it appears — through physical anguish — he clutches victory from the jaws of defeat.
Even de Minaur — when speaking at his post-match media conference — noted Djokovic was "moving pretty well", although he stopped short of saying he was feigning injury.
Injured or not, key stats from the match against de Minaur illustrated Djokovic's dominance over the 22nd seed. He hit 26 winners to nine and broke his opponent's serve six times.
His control of the match was evident during a passage of play across the first and second sets where he won nine straight games, leaving de Minaur feeling hapless.
Djokovic said he was not even thinking about winning the Australian Open a week ago, given his injury.
But the Serb's thrashing of de Minaur had renewed his hope that he can add a 22nd major singles trophy to his tally at Melbourne Park.
"Tonight — the way I played, the way I felt — gives me reason now to believe that I can go all the way," Djokovic told reporters after the match.
"I mean, I always believe I can go all the way in terms of my tennis. But the way my leg felt before tonight wasn't giving me too much hope — for the entire tournament — to go all the way through.
"Tonight I feel that, so I feel positive about it."
Djokovic will face fifth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals, having won two of their three previous head-to-head meetings.
The 35-year-old outlined not much will change in terms of the treatment for his injury ahead of Wednesday's match, saying his support team was taking a "day by day" approach.
"It's been honestly exhausting to be involved in a lot of different treatments and machines and stuff that we do," said Djokovic, who is seed four in Melbourne.
"At the same time, it was necessary. It is necessary in order to get myself in a condition to play. So I'm really glad that my body has responded really well.
"Tonight, I didn't feel any pain. I moved as well as I have the whole tournament. It means we are progressing in the right direction."
De Minaur backs Djokovic's title hopes
Even in a defeat as convincing as what Djokovic dished out, de Minaur had his moments.
While serving to stay in the match at 1-5 in the third set, he produced a cracking forehand passing shot that left Djokovic standing almost glued to the middle of the court.
For de Minaur, it was not so much a case of playing badly, but rather Djokovic refused to allow the 23-year-old to execute his game plan.
"I think what I experienced today was probably Novak very close to his best, I would say," said de Minaur, who is ranked 24 in the world.
"To me, if that's the level, I think he's definitely the guy that's going to take the title."
De Minaur conceded he was under "constant" pressure throughout the match.
"Every service game I had, I wasn't getting free points," he said.
"It felt like an uphill battle from the start. I never really was able to get my teeth into the match, make it tough for him, or bring the pressure moments and situations."
De Minaur was the last remaining Australian in the main singles draws. It is the second consecutive year he has departed the Australian Open in the fourth round.