Marat Safin has demonstrated his Australian Open title credentials with a merciless straight sets destruction of Serbian teen Novak Djokovic on centre court.

Safin, who made the final last year despite being out of shape and on the comeback from injury, took just 74 minutes to dispatch the raw 17-year-old 6-0 6-2 6-1.

Despite the youth of his opponent, it was a performance of such authority that Safin would now be at short odds to reach the semi-finals and a possible meeting with his 2004 conqueror Roger Federer.

His cause had been helped by the early elimination of Carlos Moya, the leading rival seed in his quarter of the draw.

Djokovic had every right to be overawed in what was just his fifth ATP tour match, and his first since being eliminated in the qualifiers for the Adelaide tournament earlier this month.

Thrust onto centre court in prime time, Djokovic found himself a set down in just 19 minutes, having won a humiliating sum of eight points in that opening stanza.

Djokovic showed the gall to break Safin early in the second set, but from thereon it was a rapid descent to elimination, but one he can chalk up to experience.

Safin won an impressive 93 per cent of points when he got his first serve into play, and demonstrated his adaptability by winning 18 of 19 net points.

"You have to be really careful with these up and coming players," Safin said on court after the match when asked to explain his lack of mercy.

"They have nothing to lose, they play a great match, go for it and can be dangerous.

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