Novak Djokovic Moves Closer to 100th Title with Win Over Monfils

Novak Djokovic kept his bid for a 100th career ATP title on track with a dominant 6-3, 6-3 victory over Gael Monfils in the Brisbane International last 16. The 37-year-old Serb made the most of his only break point opportunity in the first set, jumping to a 4-1 lead and claiming the set in just 36 minutes. Monfils, 38, faltered early in the second set, missing a forehand at 1-1 which allowed Djokovic to break and gain control of the match.

The world number one then held serve three times before breaking Monfils again at 5-3 to seal his 20th career win over the Frenchman. In the quarter-finals, Novak Djokovic will face American Reilly Opelka, who beat Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-4). Djokovic acknowledged Opelka’s powerful serve and said he would need to adjust his game especially with the American hitting 25 aces in his previous match.

In the women’s draw, world number one Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals after a 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) win over Yulia Putintseva. Sabalenka will now meet Marie Bouzkova, who defeated former world number one Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4. Other women’s quarter-final matchups include Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina against Australia’s Kimberly Birrell and Ashlyn Krueger facing Russia’s Polina Kudermetova.

Former world number two Ons Jabeur will meet Russia’s Mirra Andreeva. In the Hong Kong Open, Andrey Rublev was upset by Fabian Marozsan, who won 5-7, 6-3, 3-6. Marozsan will next play China’s Juncheng Shang while British number two Cameron Norrie prepares to face Kei Nishikori.