Melbourne: Novak Djokovic delivered another masterclass at the Australian Open on Wednesday to thump fifth seed Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 and reach the semifinals at Melbourne Park where he is bidding for a record-extending 10th crown and 22nd Grand Slam title.
It marked the 44th time that Djokovic reached the last four at the Grand Slams, leaving him six ahead of Rafael Nadal and only two behind his other great rival and 20-time major champion Roger Federer.
"I can't be happier with my tennis, I was solid from the back of the court. I love these conditions, this court, it's definitely special for me," Djokovic said.
Djokovic targeted Rublev's forehand and second serve with venomous returns in windy conditions on Rod Laver Arena and went ahead 3-1 in the first set after the Russian fifth seed double-faulted on breakpoint and the Serbian pulled away from there.
"You have to make adjustments and adapt," Djokovic said of playing in testing conditions. "It wasn't breezy at six in the evening and it started all of a sudden.
"People in the stands or watching on TV don't see it. But it makes a huge difference, as you have to pick and choose your shots and open up the court. The ball toss is a gamble.
"The scoreline in the opening two sets does not show the reality. Andrey's a great opponent, he has one of the biggest forehands. I knew the gameplan, but it's one thing to imagine and another to execute."
After taking the lead in the match with a brilliant backhand crosscourt winner, Djokovic showed how hard he is to beat on the grandest stage despite a strapped thigh due to a hamstring issue after the fourth seed broke in the fifth game of the second set.
He played exquisitely to save a breakpoint in the next game and let out a huge roar before going on to double his advantage in the contest after a frustrated Rublev unloaded on his coach in the stands following another double fault.
Djokovic pounced early in the next set with Rublev appearing bereft of ideas and a seventh quarterfinal defeat at a major looming, as the former No. 1 closed out a convincing win on serve to set up a last-four meeting with American Tommy Paul.
"If I have to sum up the important shots, I found my best tennis," Djokovic said.
"Obviously he (Paul) doesn't have much to lose being in the semifinals for the first time. He has been playing terrific tennis in the last 15 months.
"I have to be ready for the match mentally and not approach it differently. If I play this way, I have a good chance to go through."
Paul became the first American man to reach the Australian Open semifinals since Andy Roddick in 2009 after outclassing Ben Shelton 7-6(6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in an all-American clash at Melbourne Park.
Paul held his nerve in the big points and stood up well to his 20-year-old opponent's blistering serve to reach his first Grand Slam semi. He joins John Isner and Frances Tiafoe as the only active American men to have reached the last four of a major.
"Yesterday I was doing a lot of interviews where I was asked how it feels to be in the quarters, but the semis sound better," Paul said.