Top seed Novak Djokovic breezed into the quarter-finals as the Rogers Cup continued pretty much according to script at the Aviva Centre.

Djokovic beat Czech Republic qualifier Radek Stepanek 6-2 6-4 in a friendly encounter, during which both players repeatedly hammed it up for the crowd.

Stepanek, at 37 the oldest player in the field at the tournament, broke serve in the first game of the second set but it was merely a stay of execution against the world number one from Serbia.

Djokovic is the only member of the so-called “big four” in the sport competing in Toronto this week, with last year’s tournament winner Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal all absent from the $4.7 million event.

Berdych challenge

In a tournament so far devoid of major upsets, the top five seeds advanced to the quarters, with Swiss Stan Wawrinka, Japanese Kei Nishikori, Canadian Milos Raonic and Czech Tomas Berdych booking last eight berths.

Only Berdych needed three sets to progress as he beat Ryan Harrison 6-4 6-7 6-4.

The fifth seed’s reward is a mighty showdown against Djokovic, who leads their head-to-head record by a staggering 24-2 margin.

Yesterday, a confident Gael Monfils extended his recent run of form with a 7-6 2-6 6-4 minor upset of Belgian seventh seed David Goffin to book his spot in the quarter-finals.

The 10th-seeded Frenchman, who arrived in Toronto fresh off earning his first tournament win in two-and-a-half years, will play Raonic in the quarter-finals, after the local favourite dusted off American qualifier Jared Donaldson 6-2 6-3.

“I’m going for the shots,” Wimbledon runner-up Raonic told reporters at the end of his match.

Quarter-final: Wawrinka bt Anderson 6-1 6-3.

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