Novak Djokovic cruises into Rogers Cup quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic cruised into the quarter-finals at the Rogers Cup with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.

Qualifier Stepanek, at 37 the oldest player in the field, broke serve in the first game of the second set but it was merely a stay of execution against the world No 1.

Djokovic is the only member of the so-called 'big four' competing in Toronto, with last year's champion Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal all absent.

In a tournament so far devoid of major upsets, the top five seeds advanced to the quarters.

Only Tomas Berdych needed three sets to progress and the fifth seed's reward is a showdown against Djokovic, who leads their head-to-head by a staggering 24-2 margin.

Stan Wawrinka won a hard-hitting battle with American Jack Sock, 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.

Next up for the two-times Grand Slam champion is unseeded South African Kevin Anderson, who rallied for a 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory over the 12th seeded Australian Bernard Tomic.

Kei Nishikori had little trouble getting by American Rajeev Ram, requiring just 68 minutes to register a convincing 6-3 6-4 win.

"The first set I played really good tennis. I had some tough times, but this score shows I was dominating a little bit," Nishikori, who next plays Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, said.

"I'm still not 100 per cent yet, but feeling pretty strong. We'll have to see after a couple of more matches, but right now I feel good."

A confident Gael Monfils extended his recent run of form with a 7-6 (7-5) 2-6 6-4 victory over seventh seed David Goffin.

Monfils, who arrived in Toronto fresh from earning his first tournament win in two-and-a-half years, will play Raonic in the quarters, after the local favourite dusted off American qualifier Jared Donaldson 6-2 6-3.

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