Novak Djokovic plays Nicolas Almagro in the last sixteen of the Australian Open.
Djokovic enjoyed an easy day at the office on Friday as his third round opponent Viktor Troicki retired with a stomach strain after just a sweat. It was a boost for Djokovic, having been taken to five sets by Troicki at the US Open.
The 2008 champion has looked untouchable so far and the enticing prospect of a semi-final clash with Roger Federer draws ever closer.
Almagro, the fourteenth seed, had a major scare against Igor Andreev in the second round. The Spaniard found himself two sets to one down and in major trouble but dug deep, saving multiple match points to progress in five.
This is the furthest he has ever been at the Australian Open but it is hard to see him getting past the rampant Djokovic. Almagro's sledgehammer forehand could well cause some damage but Djokovic is in the kind of form which saw him go all the way three years ago and we cannot see Almagro getting more than a set.
