Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic came through a tough examination of his fitness as the top seed yesterday beat Canadian powerhouse Milos Raonic 7-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals.
Djokovic, who injured a side muscle during a five-set win over Taylor Fritz on Friday and suggested he might not be able to continue, showed hints of discomfort on the way to becoming only the second player to reach 300 Grand Slam match wins.
But Djokovic, bidding for a record-extending ninth title in Melbourne, responded by raising his level and improving his record over Raonic to 12-0.
The Serb will face German Alexander Zverev for a place in the semifinals.
Sixth seed Zverev booked his quarterfinal spot with a 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 victory over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.
US Open champion Dominic Thiem’s Melbourne Park campaign ended in the fourth round after he was beaten 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in just over two hours.
The Austrian had knocked out Aussie bad boy Nick Kyrgios after coming back from two sets down in a third-round epic, winning 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
SA’s Lloyd Harris was knocked out on Friday, losing to American McKenzie McDonald 7-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the third round.
In the women’s draw, Serena Willams and Simone Halep will meet in the quarterfinals while Naomi Osaka also progressed.