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Australian Open - Day 10 preview: Novak Djokovic can secure semi-final spot

There are four intriguing quarter-finals on the cards on day 10 at the Australian Open with Novak Djokovic taking to the court against Andrey Rublev in the men's competition and American duo Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul also locking horns.

In the women's draw, red-hot Aryna Sabalenka continues her pursuit of a first ever Grand Slam title with a quarter-final clash against Donna Vekic, while Czech star Karolina Pliskova takes on Magda Linette in the other match.

Rublev's journey could come to an end

WhatAndrey Rublev v Novak Djokovic
WhereMelbourne Park, Melbourne
When08.30 Wednesday 25th January
How to watchEurosport/Discovery+ and bet365's Sports Live Streaming
OddsAndrey Rublev 5/1, Novak Djokovic 1/8

Despite having his left thigh strapped throughout the match, Djokovic eased to victory over home talent Alex de Minaur 6-2 6-1 6-2 in the fourth round of the Australian Open and the Serbian shows no sign of slowing down.

Crucially, Djokovic insisted he felt no pain in his latest match and he is on a nine-match winning streak in 2023, having picked up the Adelaide International title earlier in the month.

Rublev in the quarter-finals will represent Djokovic's toughest assignment so far but the Russian was pushed to his limits in the fourth round by plucky Dane Holger Rune, eventually prevailing in five sets.

Any sign of fatigue will be punished by an experienced figure like Djokovic and Rublev, who has never reached a Grand Slam semi-final, often disappoints in these kinds of matches.

He can make Djokovic work for the win but ultimately Djokovic is a difficult beast to tame on these courts and a 3-1 win for the Serbian looks the value selection at 11/5.

Linette can push Pliskova

WhatKarolina Pliskova v Magda Linette
WhereMelbourne Park, Melbourne
When00.00 Wednesday 25th January
How to watchEurosport/Discovery+ and bet365's Sports Live Streaming
OddsKarolina Pliskova 4/7, Magda Linette 11/8

Pliskova is not messing around in Melbourne, having won all four of her matches at the Australian Open 2-0 to set up a quarter-final clash with Magda Linette of Poland.

Pliskova is 4/7 to win this one and that is understandable given she has not yet dropped a set and reached the Australian Open semi-finals in 2019, so has an affinity with these courts.

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That said, Linette should not be entirely written off.

This is the furthest the Pole has ever gone at a Grand Slam but she looked seriously impressive last time out, dumping out fourth seed and last year's WTA Finals winner Caroline Garcia 7-6 6-4.

She is unlikely to go down without a fight and a bet on this match to go to three sets appeals at 11/10.

All-American tussle could go the distance

WhatBen Shelton v Tommy Paul
WhereMelbourne Park, Melbourne
When03.30 Wednesday 25th January
How to watchEurosport/Discovery+ and bet365's Sports Live Streaming
OddsBen Shelton 11/5, Tommy Paul 4/11

Few would have envisaged this all-American tussle in the quarter-finals of this year's Australian Open, especially given that this is only Shelton's second time in the main draw of a Grand Slam.

And while Paul did make the fourth round at Wimbledon last year, this is also uncharted territory for him, making for an intriguing contest in Melbourne.

Both have had to battle hard to get to this stage - Paul was taken to five sets by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round and his fourth-round win over another Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut went to four sets.

As for Shelton, he has already been involved in two five-set humdingers at the Australian Open and has been involved in seven tiebreaks this tournament, so a bet on this one to go to five sets could be worth it at 9/4.

Sharp Sabalenka should have few issues

WhatAryna Sabalenka v Donna Vekic
WhereMelbourne Park, Melbourne
When02.00 Wednesday 25th January
How to watchEurosport/Discovery+ and bet365's Sports Live Streaming
OddsAryna Sabalenka 1/4, Donna Vekic 3/1

Croatian Vekic did well to hold off the challenge of spirited 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova last time out, winning 6-2 1-6 6-3, but she does not look strong enough to tame Sabalenka.

Sabalenka is playing some exceptional tennis right now and the Australian Open fifth seed is yet to drop a set in 2023.

Her latest success was a 7-5 6-2 win over 12th seed and in-form Swiss talent Belinda Bencic, who is arguably a cut above the unseeded Vekic.

With that in mind and with the motivation for a first Grand Slam title intensifying round by round, Sabalenka should win this one in straight sets, which can be backed at 4/5.

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