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Mensik withdrawal sends Djokovic into last eight

Novak Djokovic's hopes of a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title have been boosted after his fourth-round opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew from the Australian Open with an abdominal injury.

Djokovic was scheduled to face the 20-year-old Czech during Monday's evening session in Melbourne but he will now progress straight through to the quarter-finals.

He will face either fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy or American ninth seed Taylor Fritz in the last eight.

Should the remainder of the draw go with seedings, the 38-year-old Serb could then come up against Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals and world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the final.