Rublev grinds down Demon to reach AO quarters

Fifth seed Andrey Rublev tamed a courageous Alex de Minaur in five tough sets 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0 to bury home hopes and reach his second successive Australian Open quarter-final.

Rublev wore down the 10th-seeded Australian in a match lasting  four hours and 14 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

It was the Russian’s 300th Tour-level win and pitches him into a tough clash with in-form fourth seed Jannik Sinner for a place in the semi-finals.

At two sets apiece with the Aussie tiring, Rublev put his foot on the gas in the fifth set, taking it 6-0.

De Minaur has made nine previous Slam quarter-finals but never reached the semis.

Afterwards Rublev said “An amazing match from Alex, When I was down two sets to one, I said, ‘you might die today but you will do everything’. And then I started to play better and better and found more energy and I was able to win.”