Tennis star Novak Djokovic reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in Melbourne with a show of power.

The 35-year-old Serb outclassed the overwhelmed Australian Alex de Minaur in a very one-sided round of 16 on Monday and won 6: 2, 6: 1, 6: 2 after just 2:06 hours.

Unlike the two previous rounds, Djokovic's thigh seemed to cause significantly fewer problems.

Because of Djokovic's injury and the strong performance of number 22 de Minaur, the Australian fans had hoped for a surprise - but this hope quickly faded in the Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic was wide awake from the start, physically fit and superior in almost every respect.

De Minaur lacked the quality for a coup against the tournament favorite, who is only three wins away from the 22nd Grand Slam tournament victory.

Djokovic would draw level with record holder Rafael Nadal in the final on January 29.

On Wednesday, Djokovic, who has been undefeated in 25 games at the Australian Open, will first fight Russia's Andrei Rublev for the semi-final ticket.

The 25-year-old had previously averted the almost certain end several times in a gripping five-set thriller against Denmark's young star Holger Rune (19) and scored 6: 3, 3: 6, 6: 3, 4: 6, 7: 6 (11: 9) won thanks to a lucky net roller at match point.

Also Mies in the quarterfinals

Doubles player Andreas Mies also reached the quarterfinals in his first Grand Slam appearance with his new partner John Peers.

The two-time French Open winner won alongside the Australian on Monday against local heroes Alex Bolt/Luke Saville 6: 0, 6: 3 and is thus in Melbourne for the first time in the round of the best eight doubles.

In the fight for a place in the semi-finals, the next opponents waiting for Mies/Peers are Marcel Granollers (Spain)/Horacio Zeballos (Argentina), who are number eight.

Last November, Mies announced the separation from his long-time successful partner Kevin Krawietz, with whom he won the Grand Slam title on sand in Paris in 2019 and 2020.

Krawietz also has a new doubles partner in Tim Pütz, but he is missing in Melbourne because he will soon be a father.

Fruhvirtova fails

In the women's category, 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova narrowly missed the quarter-finals.

The Czech lost her round of 16 on Monday against Croatian Donna Vekic 2: 6, 6: 1, 3: 6.

A win would have made Fruhvirtova the youngest quarter-finalist in Melbourne in 25 years.

"Of course that annoys me," said the teenager, "but I think I'll get a few more chances in the next few years."

Vekic meets Aryna Sabalenka in the round of the top eight players.

The Belarusian prevailed against the Swiss Olympic champion Belinda Bencic 7: 5, 6: 2.

Also in the quarterfinals are the former world number one Karolina Pliskova and the Pole Magda Linette.

Pliskova clearly won her match against Zhang Shuai of China 6-0, 6-4 on Monday.

Linette surprised with the 7: 6 (7: 3), 6: 4 against number four seeded Caroline Garcia and celebrated the greatest Grand Slam tournament success of her career.

France's Garcia had kicked German player Laura Siegemund out of the competition the previous round.

Linette and Pliskova will fight in a direct duel for a place in the semi-finals on Wednesday.