Alex de Minaur has prevailed comfortably in the battle of Australia's top two men players, outclassing his friend John Millman in their last-16 clash at Queen's Club.
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Fourth-seeded de Minaur looked in a different league on the grass surface, earning his 6-1 6-3 win on Wednesday to move into the quarter-finals.
Just as in Rotterdam earlier in the year when de Minaur also won in straight sets, there appeared to be a gulf between Australia's top two, with the world No.22 needing just 64 minutes to dismantle the game of his 43rd-ranked mate.
After having a struggle to subdue Serbia's Laslo Djere in three sets on Tuesday, de Minaur found Millman a much easier proposition, his flat hitting, aggressive intent and speed around the court earning him three breaks in the opening set.
Millman, as ever, fought hard and earned a break-back in the second set when de Minaur seemed to be sailing to victory.
But the reprieve was short-lived and Millman was not about to repeat his remarkable win on his 32nd birthday on Monday against giant American Reilly Opelka, when he saved two match points en route to victory.
It was de Minaur's third straight win over his friend and set up a tough last-eight meeting with either Marin Cilic or Fabio Fognini.
Australian Associated Press
