Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic blitzed Frenchman Lucas Pouille in straight sets in their Australian Open semifinal to move on to a mouthwatering showdown against old rival Rafael Nadal.
Number one seed Djokovic faced little resistance from the Frenchman, seeded 28th, as he eased past him 6-0, 6-2, 6-2.
The Serb, seeking his 15th Grand Slam title and a record seventh Down Under, took just 23 minutes to wrap up the first set against Pouille, who was comprehensively overwhelmed in his first semi-final appearance at a Slam.
The 24-year-old Frenchman finally registered on the scorecard at the start of the second set, but it was merely temporary respite as Djokovic, 31, soon broke him again as a nervy Pouille gifted him a game with a double-fault.
Djokovic was never troubled on his own serve as he took the second set 6-2 with less than an hour played at Rod Laver Arena.
The third set proved similarly straightforward as Djokovic took it 6-2 to set up the Sunday showdown with his great rival Nadal.
Ominously for Nadal, Djokovic has never lost a final in Melbourne. The Serb currently sits level with Roger Federer on a record six titles at the venue in the Open era, but will now have a shot at becoming the outright record holder.
However, the Spaniard, 32, himself has been in blistering form in the searing Melbourne heat, not dropping a set on his way to the final and dismantling rising Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in their semifinal on Thursday.
Also on rt.com ‘Playing like Zeus’: Nadal powers past Greek youngster Tsitsipas to reach Australian Open finalNadal also crucially seems to have put the injury woes that plagued him last season – and so often through his career – well behind him and appears in his best form in many a year.
Sunday’s final will be between two men with a collective 31 Grand Slam titles to their name, one of whom will edge closer to Federer’s all-time record haul of 20. It promises to be a cracker.