With Novak Djokovic's leg OK, he sees 10th Australian Open title realistic

It took about a week for vak Djokovic to go from worrying about wher he simply could play a match at all on his injured left hamstring to thinking he can win Australian Open .

And one pain-free, nearly perfect performance in fourth round Monday me a world of difference.

“Tonight, way I played, way I felt, gives me reason w to believe that I can go all way,” Djokovic said after completely overwhelming 22nd-seeded Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 to reach quarterfinals for 13th time at Melbourne Park and 54th time at all Grand Slam tournaments.

“I mean, I always believe I can go all way, in terms of my tennis,” continued Djokovic, whose 21 major championships include nine in Australia. “But way my leg felt before tonight wasn’t giving me too many hopes, so to say, for entire tournament, to go all way through. Tonight I feel that, so I feel positive about it.”

A year ago, he got kicked out of country before Australian Open because he was t vaccinated against COVID-19. He still hasn't gotten shots, but government's coronavirus rules have been relaxed.

After looking out of joint occasionally in his first three matches in tournament last week, sometimes stumbling to ground, sometimes seeking treatment from a trainer, 35-year-old from Serbia looked like his usual flexible, court-covering, dominant self at Rod Laver Arena against de Minaur.

Djokovic won 42 of 64 points that lasted five shots or more. He accumulated a 26-9 edge in winners. He won all 12 of his service games, never facing a single break point. Generally considered best returner in game w — and, perhaps, ever — Djokovic earned a dozen break chances and converted half.

He broke to le 4-2 in first set and again to end it. He broke to go up 2-0 and 4-0 in second. He broke for vants of 1-0 and 3-0 in third.

“It just felt like constant pressure today. Every service game I h, wasn’t getting free points. It felt like an uphill battle from start,” de Minaur said. “Never really was able to get my teeth into match, make it tough for him, or bring pressure moments and situations.”

Djokovic said he felt “fantastic” and “really great in terms of mobility and movement.”

In dition to taking “a lot” of anti-inflammatory pills to help hamstring, Djokovic said he has been using “different treatments and machines and stuff” to help improve his leg. He also cautioned that he does t “want to celebrate too early, ’cause I don’t kw how body’s going to respond tomorrow and for next match.”

Yes, re are still contests to come and players to contend with.

His upcoming opponent is . 5 seed Andrey Rublev, who will he into ir matchup Wednesday with an 0-6 record in Grand Slam quarterfinals. That day’s or men’s match will be between two unseeded Americans in ir 20s who’ve never been this far at a major tournament: Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul .

men’s quarterfinals scheduled for Tuesday: . 3 Stefas Tsitsipas against unseeded Jiri Lehecka, and . 18 Karen Khachav vs. . 29 Sebastian Korda .

Of seven remaining men or than Djokovic, ne has won a Grand Slam title and only Tsitsipas ever has even reached a major final, and that was just once, losing to — yep, you guessed it — Djokovic at French Open in 2021.

“I’ve been in this situation so many times before,” Djokovic said, leaning back in his chair and placing both palms on his chest. “From that point of view I think it helps me have kind of a more, let’s say, clear approach to remaining days of tournament and what I need to do. Of course, I’ll keep an eye on all or matches, see how or guys are doing. We’ll see what happens.”

De Minaur, for one, kws what he thinks is going to happen.

“What I experienced today was probably vak very close to his best, I would say,” he said. “To me, if that’s level, I think he’s definitely guy that’s going to take title.”