BRISBANE, Australia — Novak Djokovic’s bid for a 100th ATP Tour title received a boost on Thursday when he beat fellow veteran Gayle Monfils 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International.
Djokovic (37), who is aiming to join Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109) as players who will set a new milestone, passed the first set smoothly thanks to a solo break in the fourth game.
Djokovic never looked back, taking the second set to extend his win-loss record against the Frenchman to 20-0, almost 20 years after they first met in the opening round of the 2005 US Open.
“We’ve been playing for many years,” said Djokovic, who will be seeking an 11th Australian Open title when the season’s first Grand Slam begins later this month.
“I’ve known Gayle since I was 15. We played quite a bit in the juniors and on tour and I got some good scores against him, but we had an amazing game. He’s one of the best athletes, if not the best, for many years. in our sport.”
Djokovic next faces American standout Reilly Opelka at the Australian Open from January 12-26 as he ramps up preparations to win a 25th Grand Slam title.
Opelka beat Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (9), 7-6 (4), while Frenchman Giovanni Mpesi Pericard, another player who can blow away opponents with a booming serve, beat fourth seed Francis Thia. They came from behind to win 6-4, 7-6(4). 4).
19-year-old Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic earlier defeated Serbia’s lucky loser Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-2.
On the women’s side, US Open and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka won 7-6(2), 6-4 against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva after a stern test in the opening set. .
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, who had her 2024 season ended early with a shoulder injury, dug deep and beat Armenia’s Elina Avanesyan 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in Berlin last June. They advanced to the quarterfinals of their first tour since opening.
Third seed Daria Kasatkina lost 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 against fellow Russian Polina Kudermetova, while compatriot Mirra Andreeva defeated Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-6. 0.
Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka was also eliminated after losing 6-4, 6-4 to Czech Marie Bouzkova.
