Novak Djokovic defeated seventh seed Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the Australian Open quarterfinals.
Djokovic gains crucial break midway through first set that proves to be the difference
Both players cruised on serve in the opening stages of the match, but at 3-2 ahead, Djokovic would gain the only break he'd need, breaching Nishikori's serve when the Japanese double faulted, his second serve down the middle well wide, capping a game in which he had a 40-0 lead.
Djokovic served for the set at 5-3 and fell behind 0-30, but won the next four points on serve to take the game and set 6-3. The Serb won 20 of 25 points on serve in the set.
Djokovic kicks it up a gear in second set to assert dominance
It didn't take long for the top ranked player in the world to make his imprint on the second set, breaking Nishikori to open it up when the Japanese's forehand was struck well long. He gained a second break at 3-1 ahead when Nishikori misfired with another forehand, this one going into the bottom of the net.
Djokovic's serve was not as solid in this set as in the first, facing five break points, including three when serving for the set at 5-2, but he saved them all, took the set 6-2 and held a commanding two sets to none lead.
Nishikori twice gains break lead, but can't hold it as Djokovic rallies back to advance to quarterfinals
Nishikori would finally break Djokovic's serve. After he dug out of break point down to hold in the opening game, he extended his lead to 2-0 after Djokovic netted a forehand. In what would become a theme of the set, breaks traded, Djokovic breaking back at 0-2 and 1-3 down.
After the defending champion held for 3-all, he got the last and crucial break of the match, Nishikori pushing a backhand long as Djokovic took a 4-3 lead. He would finish the match untroubled on serve, taking the match on his third point to close out a straight sets win.
By the numbers
In the previous round - 14th seed Gilles Simon, Djokovic committed 100 unforced errors. By comparison, he cleaned his game up in this match, committing only 27. He was also an efficient 6 of 11 on break points won and won 66 percent of his second serve points. Nishikori committed 54 unforced errors while only converting 2 of his 8 break point chances and won just 40 percent of his second serve points.
Federer next
Djokovic will next face third seed Roger Federer for the 45th time. The Serb got the better of the Swiss in last year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals.