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.
After being sidelined for much of the last two and a half years, both Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka will be hoping to win their first final since 2017.
Wawrinka defeated a World No. 1 for the fifth time (5-21), and he is into the last eight at the season's final Grand Slam for the fifth time in his six most recent appearances.
After losing the first set in both his first and second-round wins in US Open, Federer produced a powerful performance to clinch victory in the third round in straight sets against Daniel Evans of Britain.
Federer has a 22-3 career record against Wawrinka, with the former world No. 1 winning the six most recent matches between them.
Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic reached the second round of the Toronto Masters on Tuesday, with both men polishing their…
