Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka Into Brisbane International Quarter-Final As Rising Stars Impress

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were in ominous form ahead of the Australian Open as both powered into the Brisbane International quarter-finals on Thursday. On a day when rising stars Mirra Andreeva and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard underlined their potential, Djokovic cruised past fellow veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes. In the women's draw, world number one Sabalenka -- who is aiming to win the Australian Open for the third time in a row -- beat Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.

Djokovic and Monfils played an entertaining match, but the 37-year-old Serb was always in control as he notched his 20th straight win over the Frenchman.

Former world number one Djokovic plays giant American Reilly Opelka in the last eight.

"We've been playing a long time, I've known Gael since I was 15 and he was 16," said Djokovic, who is pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title when the Australian Open begins on January 12.

"I've had a good score against him over the years but we've had some incredible battles on different surfaces.

"Hopefully we can play some more before we both retire."

The 17-year-old Russian Andreeva demolished Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-0 in the women's draw while Mpetshi Perricard downed fourth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the quarter-finals.

A year after losing to the same player at the season-opening event, Andreeva displayed her improvement over 2024 with a 63-minute romp over the Czech Republic's Noskova.

The teenager faces Ons Jabeur of Tunisia next.

"Last year she (Noskova) almost killed me in the quarter-finals so I was thinking it's time to take my revenge," Andreeva said.

The Russian started the year ranked 16th in the world and is tipped by many to challenge