Italian star Jannik Sinner has made it clear he is ready to seriously challenge for a maiden grand slam title, making light work of Argentine Sebastian Baez in their third-round match at the Australian Open.
The fourth seed, who finished 2023 as arguably the most in-form player on tour, took less than two hours to advance to the round of 16, winning 6-0 6-1 6-3.
Sinner is yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park this year, but his demolition of 26th seed Baez was comfortably his most convincing performance yet.
"I felt like I was returning much better," he said.
"The conditions are a little bit different to when we played (against Baez) in Shanghai.
"I think in general I played really well and I feel great here.
"I have played now three times at 12(pm Australian time) so in Italy it's two in the night ... thank you to those who are watching from home. It's a pleasure."
Sinner will meet Czech Tomas Machac or Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov, who also play on Friday, in the fourth round.
The red-hot 22-year-old looms as a potential quarter-final round opponent for Australia's great hope Alex de Minaur.
Sinner's best result at Melbourne Park is a quarter-final exit in 2022, and he is yet to reach a major final.
But he continues to boost his credentials in the hope of toppling 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic.
Sinner beat the world No.1 twice in the space of a week in November and is continuing his hot run in Melbourne.
The pair could face each other in the semi finals.