The American Tommy Paul (ATP 35), who was playing his first Grand Slam quarter-final, qualified for the semi-finals of the Australian Open, the first major tournament of the season, beating his young compatriot on Wednesday Ben Shelton (ATP 89), 20 and Melbourne rookie, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Tommy Paul, 25, whose best Grand Slam result so far was a knockout round at Wimbledon last year, will face the winner of the last semi-final, between the Serb, for a place in the final. Novak Djokovic (ATP 5/N.4) to Russian Andrey Rublev (ATP 6/N.5).
Djokovic is looking for a 10th coronation in Melbourne and a 22nd in Grand Slam, which would allow him to equal the record of Spaniard Rafael Nadal, defending champion in Melbourne. The other semi-final will oppose the Russian Karen Khachanov (ATP 20/N.18) have Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.
