As both Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the Brisbane International quarter-finals on Thursday, they both posted ominous results ahead of the Australian Open.
Djokovic defeated veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes, a moment when rising stars Mirra Andreeva and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard showed their potential.
In the women’s draw, world number one Sabalenka — who is aiming to win the Australian Open for the third time in a row — beat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
The 37-year-old Serb was always in charge as he won his 20th straight match against the Frenchman, despite the entertaining match between Djokovic and Monfils.
In the final eight, former world number one Djokovic squares off against the gigantic American Reilly Opelka.
When the Australian Open begins on January 12, Djokovic will attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. “We have been playing for a long time, I have known Gael since I was 15 and he was 16,” said Djokovic, who is aiming to win the title in record time.
We’ve engaged in some incredible battles on various surfaces, despite having a good score against him over the years.
We can probably play a little more before we both retire. ”
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The 17-year-old Russian Andreeva demolished Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-0 in the women’s draw while Mpetshi Perricard downed fourth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the quarter-finals.
A year after losing to the same player at the season-opening event, Andreeva displayed her improvement over 2024 with a 63-minute romp over the Czech Republic’s Noskova.
Next, the teenager faces Tunisian Ons Jabeur.
“Last year she (Noskova) almost killed me in the quarter-finals so I was thinking it’s time to take my revenge,” Andreeva said.
Russian national, who ranks 16th in the world at the beginning of the year, is expected to face off against Russia for a Grand Slam in 2025.
“My number one goal for the 2025 season is to crack the top 10,” said Andreeva, who is coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez.
The towering Mpetshi Perricard, 21, who beat Australian Nick Kyrgios in an entertaining round-one clash, again served superbly to defeat US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe.
After serving 36 aces in his three-set win over Kyrgios, the Frenchman sent down another 20 against the more experienced Tiafoe.
Mpetshi Perricard plays the 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik.
“It was a good match, not very easy to play against Francis,” Mpetshi Perricard said.
Although the first set was very close on the first serve, I managed to pressure him into doing so with the second, which was successful. ”
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