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Novak Djokovic cruised to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 win over Gilles Muller. The World No. 1 Djokovic took on Muller for the first time in his career. The big serving lad from Luxembourg had ousted Roberto Bautista Agut and John Isner to book a place in the last 16. It wasn’t going to be an easy task for the No. 1 seed in this fourth round encounter. Both players held their serves without any trouble in the early goings of the first set. Muller had won close to 90% of his first serve points before this match and he showed why. He served wide to Djokovic’s backhand and put away the short reply with a deft volley near the net on a few occcasions to remain on serve.
The Serb won 83 % of his first serve points and converted a break point opportunity in the ninth game. There was no looking back as Djokovic wrapped up the opening set after Muller netted his backhand on set point.
Both players maintained their healthy serve percentage in the second set, but Muller started to commit more errors off his forehand. The World No. 42 managed to remain on serve thanks to his approach to the net where he won seven of 13 points. The Serb did not provide a single break point opportunity to Muller and the pressure showed on Muller when he found himself in trouble in the 11th game of the second set. After saving a couple of break points, Djokovic made Muller commit a forced error off his backhand to lead 6-5. He served out the 12th game to love to go 2 sets to 0 up.
Muller had four break point chances in the sixth game of the third set, but Djokovic dug deep to level scores at 3-3. The No. 1 seed capitalised on Muller’s second serve in the 11th game as he broke him for the third time in the match. It was virtually a match point for the four time Australian Open champion as he held his serve convincingly to reach his eighth consecutive quarterfinal at the Australian Open.
He will take on the big serving Canadian Milos Raonic in the last eight.
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