Melbourne (AFP)

Novak Djokovic continues to fly over his table at the Australian Open with an easy qualification for the quarterfinals on Sunday, unlike the very young Coco Gauff who fell back to earth after his victories against Venus Williams and Naomi Osaka.

Pending the night session which will propose the 8th finals of Ashleigh Barty and Roger Federer, Djokovic, defending champion, clearly dominated the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman, 14th world, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

The Serb has not lost a set since the third of his first round match against German Jan-Lennard Struff (37th).

And he reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the 46th time, the 11th in Melbourne where he aims to bring his title record to 8 this year.

The N.2 will face Milos Raonic (35th) for a place in the last four and expects a "very different" match.

The Canadian "is one of the most physical players on the circuit: I have to be ready to return the missiles that are going to hit me," said the Djoker.

"One of the keys will be my ability to return, and another will be my ability to calmly win my own faceoffs," said the best raiser on the circuit.

For his part, Raonic dismissed 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 Marin Cilic (39th), reduced by pain in the lower back.

- History of services -

"I'm happy to be physically good and to play well. I haven't had the opportunity to do it lately, so I'm happy," said the 29-year-old Canadian who still hasn't conceded the slightest set after four games in this first Grand Slam tournament of the year, including against Stefanos Tsitsipas (6th) in the third round.

Against Djokovic, he believes that "it will take more than 35 aces", his total against Cilic, to hope to pass.

After already reaching quarters in Melbourne last year, injuries thwarted the second half of his 2019 season, forcing him to give up the US Open (gluteal muscles) and the Davis Cup in Madrid (back).

He already played a semifinal in Melbourne in 2016, the year he reached the final at Wimbledon, which remains his best result to date in a Grand Slam tournament.

The female picture was marked by the fall of teenager Gauff. The youngest player of the tournament (15 years old), who had never lost to an American compatriot, seemed to have to break everything after her victories over Venus Williams in the first round and the title holder, the Japanese Osaka, in the 3rd .

- The Jabeur surprise -

But, after a very tight first set, Kenin (15th) inflicted a correction 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-0.

"It was a big game against a great player. This victory means a lot to me," said the 21-year-old, born in Moscow but raised in New York and then Florida.

His best result in Melbourne so far was the 2nd round achieved last year. In the Grand Slam, it rose to the knockout stages at Roland Garros, also last season.

Kenin will face the surprising Ons Jabeur (78th) for a place in the last four.

The 25-year-old Tunisian, the first player in the Arab world to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament, eliminated 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 the Chinese Qiang Wang (29th) who had caused the stupor in dismissing in the 3rd round Serena Williams.

"I'm trembling, it's really incredible, I can't describe how I feel," said Jabeur.

"I started the match very well, but then it was my sister who played, not me (laughs)! If I play well it is me, if I play badly it is my sister!" she joked.

The day started with the qualification of the Czech Petra Kvitova, 8th world and finalist last year, at the expense of the Greek Maria Sakkari (23rd) 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2.

© 2020 AFP