Andrey Rublev Advances to Australian Open Quarterfinals After Intense Battle with Álex de Minaur

In a vibrant duel at the Rod Laver Arena, Andrey Rublev managed to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open after defeating a combative Álex de Minaur, who captivated the public with the best point so far in the tournament. Despite speculation about the Russian’s limitations in Grand Slams, the experienced 26-year-old singles player demonstrated his ability to reach the final rounds.

The match began with Rublev taking advantage of the local tennis player’s initial shyness, managing to take the lead in the first set. Although the Australian showed resistance and pushed the Russian to the limit in decisive moments, Rublev’s power and hierarchy tipped the balance in his favor. In the second round, both engaged in frenetic exchanges, with dizzying movements and constant efforts to dominate the point. De Minaur managed to equalize the match, in what was his best version of the day. However, the third set was a high-level show, which was characterized by the battle of the performers.

The real transformation came in the fourth set, when Rublev, after a brief time in the locker room, tactically reorganized his game and unleashed his powerful forehand. Despite some exchanges of breaks of serve, the Russian responded decisively, securing a decisive lead on the scoreboard. Thus, he was able to close the match with a resounding 6-0 in the fifth set, ensuring his place in the quarterfinals, where he will face Jannik Sinner. But Alex De Minaur’s “impossible point” that put the powerful Russian singles player on the ropes will remain in memory.

For his part, Novak Djokovic achieved a superb victory by beating Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-0, 6-0, 6-3. Those present at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne witnessed 1 hour, 44 minutes of the highest level of play by the Serbian, who seeks to renew his crown at the Aus Open and extend his record in major tournaments to 25 conquests.

Ten-time champion in Australia, Nole extended his streak in the tournament to 32 consecutive victories, where his last defeat occurred in 2018 at the hands of Korean Chung Hyeon in the round of 16. The Balkan did not play in the 2022 edition due to his memorable dispute with the Australian authorities, who deported him for failing to comply with the immigration rules in force at that time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

After giving up sets in his first two games, the Serbian appeared in his dimension against the Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry in the third round and today confirmed it with a victory with a flawless performance. Djokovic connected 17 aces, won 81% of the points with his first serve, hit 31 winners and took 7 of the 11 chances to break the service of a Frenchman reduced to the superiority of his rival.

“The last two days have been really good. “I am going in a positive direction,” assumed the Serbian, who will face the American Taylor Fritz (12th) for a place in the semifinals.

On the other hand, the Italian Jannik Sinner, fourth seed, defeated the Russian Karen Khachanov (15th) 6-4, 7-5 and 6-3 and also reached the quarterfinals. The executioner of Argentine Sebastián Báez in the previous instance, won his four matches in the tournament without conceding a single set and resolved all of them before three hours of competition, unlike the rest of the title candidates.

2024-01-21 13:54:00
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