Djokovic, Sabalenka reach Brisbane quarters

Novak Djokovic's bid for a 100th ATP Tour title gained momentum as the Serb thumped fellow veteran Gael Monfils 6-3 6-3 to reach the Brisbane International quarter-finals.

The 37-year-old, who is looking to join Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors as players who have won at least a century of titles, breezed through the first set on the back of a solitary break in the fourth game.

Djokovic never looked back from there as he powered through the second set to extend his win-loss record against the French player to 20-0, nearly two decades after their first encounter in the opening round of the 2005  Open.

Djokovic will be gunning for an 11th Australian Open title when the season's opening Grand Slam begins later this month.

Djokovic will step up his preparations for a tilt at a 25th Grand Slam title at the Jan. 12-26 Australian Open when he takes on big-serving American Reilly Opelka in the next round.

Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, another player who can blow away his opponents with booming serves, upset fourth seed Frances Tiafoe 6-4 7-6(4).

Meanwhile Sabalenka, the 2024 runner-up to Elena Rybakina, was two points from losing the opener on four occasions but held her nerve in the most important moments to improve to 2-1 overall against Putintseva.

Belarus’ world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka reached the Brisbane quarterfinal after outlasting world number 29 Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

In the quarterfinal the Belarusian will face world number 44 Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic who defeated Belarus’ world number 20 Victoria Azarenka, 6-4, 6-4, in the round of Last 16.

In the second round Aryna Sabalenka saw off Mexico’s world number 75 Renata Zarazua, 6-4, 6-0, while Victoria Azarenka overcame Australia’s world number 116 Maya Joint, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4.

Last year Aryna Sabalenka reached the Brisbane final.