<p>Novak Djokovic overcame a shaky start to beat Frenchman Quentin Halys on Thursday and reach the Adelaide International quarter-finals, stepping up his preparations for the Australian Open.</p>.<p>The top seed from Serbia won 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) and will face Canada's Denis Shapovalov in the last eight.</p>.<p>Djokovic returned to the scene of his 2007 title run on Tuesday with a comfortable straight-sets win over France's Constant Lestienne.</p>.<p>He backed that up against Lestienne's doubles partner Halys but was slow to get going, slumping 2-5 in the first set before clinching victory.</p>.<p>"It was a great performance from my opponent today," said the 35-year-old Djokovic, who is warming up for a tilt at a 10th Australian Open title after missing last year's Grand Slam when he was deported over his vaccination status.</p>.<p>"He played like a top-10 player today.</p>.<p>"It was difficult to break his serve because he was hitting his spots and he was being very precise, and big serves, as well," he added.</p>.<p>"Proud to be able to overcome a challenge like this. Winning two tiebreakers is always great I think for confidence level at the beginning of the year."</p>.<p>With the crowd firmly behind the former world number one on a packed centre court, Djokovic -- who won Wimbledon among five titles last year -- lost his opening service game against the 64th-ranked Frenchman.</p>.<p>He earned two break points in game three but was unable to convert, biding his time until the seventh game, when he broke to love and then raced through the tiebreak.</p>.<p>Nothing separated them in the second set, which again went to a tiebreak, after Halys saved two match points at 5-4, with Djokovic finally prevailing when Halys netted a backhand.</p>.<p>Djokovic's reward is a clash with world number 18 Shapovalov, who sailed into the last eight with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin.</p>.<p>Djokovic has won all seven previous encounters with the Canadian.</p>.<p>Shapovalov is still riding the wave of leading Canada to the Davis Cup title and said he was determined to maintain his good form.</p>.<p>"Definitely trying to implement that on the individual side. Obviously so far it's been a great start. Hopefully I can capitalise on a good start to the week and definitely excited for what's to come," he said.</p>.<p>American Sebastian Korda progressed by beating Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 to set up a clash with Italian sixth seed Jannik Sinner who ousted defending champion Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.</p>.<p>In the women's draw, Czech teen Linda Noskova defeated American Claire Liu 6-2, 6-2 to power into the last eight, where she will play two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka who overcame Zheng Qinwen.</p>.<p>"She's a great talent. I feel like she's going to be a really, really good player," Azarenka said of the rising Chinese player after using her experience to beat her 6-2, 7-5.</p>.<p>"But I thought that I stuck to my game plan pretty well today."</p>.<p>Former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko crashed out 6-3, 6-0 to Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu, who will face Russian world number nine Veronika Kudermetova next.</p>
<p>Novak Djokovic overcame a shaky start to beat Frenchman Quentin Halys on Thursday and reach the Adelaide International quarter-finals, stepping up his preparations for the Australian Open.</p>.<p>The top seed from Serbia won 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) and will face Canada's Denis Shapovalov in the last eight.</p>.<p>Djokovic returned to the scene of his 2007 title run on Tuesday with a comfortable straight-sets win over France's Constant Lestienne.</p>.<p>He backed that up against Lestienne's doubles partner Halys but was slow to get going, slumping 2-5 in the first set before clinching victory.</p>.<p>"It was a great performance from my opponent today," said the 35-year-old Djokovic, who is warming up for a tilt at a 10th Australian Open title after missing last year's Grand Slam when he was deported over his vaccination status.</p>.<p>"He played like a top-10 player today.</p>.<p>"It was difficult to break his serve because he was hitting his spots and he was being very precise, and big serves, as well," he added.</p>.<p>"Proud to be able to overcome a challenge like this. Winning two tiebreakers is always great I think for confidence level at the beginning of the year."</p>.<p>With the crowd firmly behind the former world number one on a packed centre court, Djokovic -- who won Wimbledon among five titles last year -- lost his opening service game against the 64th-ranked Frenchman.</p>.<p>He earned two break points in game three but was unable to convert, biding his time until the seventh game, when he broke to love and then raced through the tiebreak.</p>.<p>Nothing separated them in the second set, which again went to a tiebreak, after Halys saved two match points at 5-4, with Djokovic finally prevailing when Halys netted a backhand.</p>.<p>Djokovic's reward is a clash with world number 18 Shapovalov, who sailed into the last eight with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin.</p>.<p>Djokovic has won all seven previous encounters with the Canadian.</p>.<p>Shapovalov is still riding the wave of leading Canada to the Davis Cup title and said he was determined to maintain his good form.</p>.<p>"Definitely trying to implement that on the individual side. Obviously so far it's been a great start. Hopefully I can capitalise on a good start to the week and definitely excited for what's to come," he said.</p>.<p>American Sebastian Korda progressed by beating Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 to set up a clash with Italian sixth seed Jannik Sinner who ousted defending champion Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.</p>.<p>In the women's draw, Czech teen Linda Noskova defeated American Claire Liu 6-2, 6-2 to power into the last eight, where she will play two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka who overcame Zheng Qinwen.</p>.<p>"She's a great talent. I feel like she's going to be a really, really good player," Azarenka said of the rising Chinese player after using her experience to beat her 6-2, 7-5.</p>.<p>"But I thought that I stuck to my game plan pretty well today."</p>.<p>Former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko crashed out 6-3, 6-0 to Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu, who will face Russian world number nine Veronika Kudermetova next.</p>