Italian Open: Djokovic advances to quarters with win over Wawrinka
After 75 minutes, the Serbian soaked up Wawrinka's heavy ball-striking and pulled the former World No 3 around to advance to the quarter-finals.
After 75 minutes, the Serbian soaked up Wawrinka's heavy ball-striking and pulled the former World No 3 around to advance to the quarter-finals.
The defending champion Rafael Nadal has dropped just 19 games through his opening three matches at this year's clay court grand slam.
Wawrinka's victory made him the first man apart from his legendary compatriot Roger Federer, Britain's Andy Murray, Djokovic and Nadal to win a Grand Slam title since Juan Martin Del Potro won the US Open in 2009.
The seventh seed was thumped in the first set but recovered to grind down the 2014 champion 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the hot sun on Rod Laver Arena.
Novak Djokovic, who is eyeing a record-breaking eighth Australian Open title, looked at his usual best and was vicious with his serve.
Notably, this will be Wawrinka's fifth quarter-final in Melbourne and his first at this event since 2017.
Daniil Medvedev registered a routine victory of 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, while Stan Wawrinka benefitted after his opponent retired from the third-round match.
The 34-year-old Wawrinka, a three-time major winner, is top seed in Doha which boasts a respectable $1.4 million prize fund.
Nadal will next meet Swiss Stan Wawrinka at 12 am (IST) on 1 November.
It is to note that this was Murray’s first title since 2017 Dubai when he was the World No 1.
