By Dave Worsley*
Serbia's Novak Djokovic throws a cap towards a fan as he celebrates victory against Australia's Alex De Minaur after their men's singles match on day eight of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Photo: AFP / Martin Keep
Comment - A number of big name players are missing from the quarterfinals of the Australian Open men's and women's singles, but one name still stands out like a shining light.
Nine-time winner, Novak Djokovic continues to defy the odds, injury and every opponent as he reached the last eight of the tournament for the 13th time, at an event which has become his own.
He despatched local Alex De Minaur showing little mercy and no sign of any injury issues either.
The 21-time Grand Slam winner does have a tough match lined up against Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev, but it appears no one can stop him romping to another title, especially after last year's immigration problems had him effectively kicked out of the country.
And while Djokovic was near perfection there was plenty of drama in other matches. Rublev won his fourth round clash on a net cord in the fifth set over Danish teen Holger Rune.
Unseeded Americans Ben Shelton and J J Wolf blasted the ball at each other for five sets in an entertaining battle for 20-year-old Shelton to make his first quarterfinal in his first tennis trip outside the United States.
Shelton will face another unseeded American in the form of Tommy Paul as tennis from the US appears to be on a resurgence.
In the other men's quarters Russian Karen Kachenov faces Sebastian Korda, whose father won the tournament in 1998.
Third seed Stephanos Tsitsipas had to overcome Jannik Sinner in five sets and plays unheralded Jiri Lehecka in his quarterfinal.
Jessica Pegula is the highest ranked player remaining in the women's draw. Photo: AFP / DPPI / Rob Prange
In the women's draw American third seed Jessica Pegula is the highest ranked player remaining in a raft of players who no one is the real favourite.
Pegula plays former champ Victoria Azarenka in her quarterfinal while Elena Rybakina, the Wimbledon winner last year and a straight set victor over top seed Iga Swiatek, plays former French Open champ and queen of the unorthodox Jelena Ostapenko.
Former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova will play the smart-thinking Magda Linette from Poland who knockout Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.
Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) will take on Donna Vekic in the last quarterfinal of the women's draw which is very open and no one player standing out as the favourite.
*Tennis journalist Dave Worsley is covering his 23rd Australian Open and is an RNZ contributor.