Reigning Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has set up a fourth-round encounter with Diego Schwartzman with a clinical win over Yoshihito Nishioka.
The No.2 seed breezed through the third-round clash, registering a 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over the Japanese in just one hour and 25 minutes.
It’s the 13th time the Serb has made it to the last 16 at Melbourne Park as he chases a record-extending eighth crown.
Djokovic’s serving was impervious on Friday, even leaving him impressed.
“If it happened, it didn’t happen too many times,” he said of giving away a solitary point on serve in the first two sets.
“Definitely one of the best serving matches I’ve had lately.”
Fourteenth seed Schwartzman will present a very different challenge to the left-handed Nishioka as Djokovic eyes off a quarter-final against either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Roberto Bautista Agut.
“He is one of the quickest player on the tour,” Djokovic said of the Argentine.
“Obviously right-handed so I’m going to have to prepare a bit different tactics than I have today.
“Hopefully my serve can be as good as it was today or at least close. If that’s the case, then I feel I have a pretty good chance. Obviously I’ve got to be patient but still aggressive.”
The match against Schwartzman will also be the 16-time grand slam winner’s 50th in the fourth round at a major.