Djokovic, Sabalenka into Brisbane quarters as rising stars impress

Brisbane, Australia: Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were in ominous form ahead of the Australian Open as both powered into the Brisbane Internatio...

Brisbane, Australia: 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.