Novak Djokovic reaches Australian Open quarterfinals and ties a Roger Federer record

MELBOURNE, Australia â€”  Novak Djokovic was ruthless in a 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino on Sunday to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals and match another of Roger Federer’s Grand Slam records.

In a rare daytime appearance on Rod Laver Arena, the 10-time Australian Open champion hit 31 winners and raced to victory in 1 hour and 44 minutes to progress to the last eight at a major for the 58th time, tying Federer’s mark.

“The first two sets were some of the best sets I’ve played in a while,� said Djokovic, who is bidding for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title. “I played great from the first to the last point.�

He added, in jest: “I really wanted to lose that game in the third set because the tension was building in the stadium.

The 35-year-old Mannarino had gone to five sets in all three of his previous rounds. After missing a break point in the opening game, he almost never threatened Djokovic.

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The Frenchman avoided a so-called triple-bagel — only five Grand Slam matches in the Open era have been won 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 — but he was only postponing the inevitable.

Djokovic has admitted to feeling unwell in recent rounds but said his health is improving.

“Last couple of days has been really good,� he said. “It’s going in a positive direction, health-wise, tennis-wise.�

Djokovic plays either No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas, the runner-up here last year, or 12th-ranked Taylor Fritz.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and U.S. Open winner Coco Gauff cruised into the women’s quarterfinals with commanding wins.

No. 2-ranked Sabalenka, who won her first Slam title here last year, beat Amanada Anisimova 6-3, 6-2. Gauff, who picked up her first major at the U.S. Open in September, beat Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-2.

Anisimova had won four of their previous five meetings but she didn’t have the answers this time to counter the power of the Belarusian, who hit 18 winners.

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“I’m super-happy with the level, happy to get this win, she’s a tough opponent,� Sabalenka said. “I love the atmosphere here, I love playing in front of you guys. I really want to stay as long as possible and hopefully we can get this thing one more time.�

A brief rain delay at 4-1 in the first set stopped Sabalenka’s momentum but she quickly recovered and pulled away in the second set. She’ll meet either 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva or No. 9 Barbora Krejcikova in the last eight.

Gauff was the first woman through, needing just 63 minutes to see off Frech in a match played on Rod Laver Arena — in front of the Australian great.

“Luckily when I saw him come in I was already well up,� Gauff said. “I heard clapping and knew it wasn’t for us, it was only the first set. But thank you for coming, it’s an honor.�

Gauff will play Marta Kostyuk after the Ukrainian beat Maria Tomafeeva 6-2, 6-1 to reach the major quarterfinals for the first time.

Still a teenager, Gauff drew attention to her shoes, which carry a number of messages, including one that says: ‘you can change the world with your racket,’ something her father told her as a little girl.