'A statement victory' - Tim Henman wowed by 'clear favourite' for title Novak Djokovic after Alex de Minaur win
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Updated 23/01/2023 at 14:07 GMT
Novak Djokovic produced his best display of the 2023 Australian Open as he swept past Alex de Minaur in straight sets in the fourth round. It was a performance that impressed Eurosport experts Tim Henman and Mats Wilander. Henman said it was a like a "training session" for the former world No. 1 while Wilander said his confidence looks "through the roof" ahead of facing Andrey Rublev.
Australian Open highlights - Djokovic cruises past De Minaur
Tim Henman described Novak Djokovic’s straight-sets win over Alex de Minaur at the Australian Open as a “statement performance” and believes he is the “clear favourite” for the title.
Djokovic outclassed home hope De Minaur in just over two hours to secure his place in the quarter-finals.
The nine-time champion said afterwards that he was “almost flawless” and was not troubled by the hamstring injury that appeared to hamper him slightly during the first week of the tournament.
“For me it was a statement performance and a statement victory,” said Eurosport expert Henman.
“We’ve seen in both the men’s and women’s singles there have been so many upsets. The top two seeds have gone out of both draws for the first time in the Open era, and I think he is the clear favourite.
“There have been question marks, mainly around his leg and his physicality, but to see him go out against De Minaur in front of his home crowd, and just destroy him - it wasn’t through lack of effort, De Minaur tried from the first ball to the last, but, Djokovic was just simply too good.
"Going into the quarter-finals, for me, he’s the clear favourite.”
The former world No. 1 hit 26 winners compared to just nine from De Minaur and was on top from start to finish on Rod Laver Arena.
“Most people talk about five or six gears but Djokovic is looking at seven or eight because he’s just taking the ball so early,” added Henman.
“To play against De Minaur, who is one of the fastest guys out there – even he may not be the biggest hitter - you have to earn your points, but it was like a training session the way he executed his ground shots.
“He will take huge confidence going into the quarter-finals.”
Eurosport expert Mats Wilander says Djokovic’s confidence looks “through the roof” ahead of his quarter-final against fifth seed Andrey Rublev.
“Unbelievable. The ball striking skills are absolutely incredible. The tactical moves that he makes here and there, how he can shorten the point on both the forehand and the backhand, he throws in a second serve harder than the first serve he just hit. I mean the self-belief in Novak right now is just incredible.
“I was thinking watching him that I asked Pete Sampras once how he would play Rafael Nadal on clay, and he said ‘I wouldn’t let him hit more than one shot a rally’. You can’t do that with Novak, because he’s not allowing you to hit more than one shot. He’s super, super aggressive, confidence is through the roof and looks unbeatable for sure.”
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De Minaur admits he hasn't ever played anyone better than Djokovic
Rublev saved two match points in a dramatic five-set victory over Holger Rune in the fourth round.
Asked whether Rublev could trouble Djokovic more than De Minaur, Wilander added: “His first serve is better, not sure about the second serve, but his first serve is a little harder, a little more precise. I think he hits his forehand better than De Minaur. I think he can take the ball a little bit earlier.
“I don’t know if Novak is going to be able to dictate as much, I don’t know if Novak necessarily wants to dictate as much against Rublev as he was allowed to today, so I think it’s a different match-up, and Rublev - yes, he’s a better player than De Minaur everywhere to me.
“But if Novak plays like this, you have to be a huge server to have any kind of chance, because from the baseline, it’s a different game.”
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Wilander, Henman praise 'unbelievable' Djokovic after De Minaur win
Djokovic beat Rublev in straight sets when they last met at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin in 2022.
However, Rublev did get the better of Djokovic on clay in Belgrade earlier in the season.
Djokovic is bidding to win a 22nd Grand Slam title which would move him level with Rafael Nadal in the all-time standings.
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