Vintage Djokovic produces ‘best match of tournament’ amidst struggles
MELBOURNE, Jan 17: Novak Djokovic overcame struggles as the record 10-time champion surged to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 triumph against Tomas Machac to advance to the fourth round at the Australian Open for a 17th time on Friday.
Djokovic tugged at his upper abdomen towards the end of the first set, though it wasn’t clear what the issue was. The Serb called for the physio during the second set and left for treatment at the end of it. Yet despite dealing with physical challenges, the 37-year-old Serbian was able to overpower and outfox the Czech 26th seed from the baseline to wrap up a clinical two-hour, 22-minute victory at the Rod Laver Arena.“I think I played really well, honestly. I’m very happy with my game. I am slightly surprised with the result, to beat him in straight sets. He was a break up early in the second, I struggled physically there. I tried to catch my breath, I’m not 19 anymore.
“I somehow managed to turn things around, held my serve when I needed to. A couple of points really decided that set, which could have gone his way, then the outcome of the match would be different. Overall in the third set, I felt fresh and moved really well. I’m really pleased with my game. There is always something to work on, but this is definitely my best match of the tournament,” said Djokovic in the post-game interview.
ALCARAZ CRUISES THROUGH
Carlos Alcaraz advanced past Nuno Borges 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2, delivering a swift and emphatic response after dropping his first set of the tournament, to enter the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second time in four appearances here on Friday.
The Spaniard is bidding to become the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam in men’s singles history.
Alcaraz will meet the winner of Friday night’s showdown between 15th seed Jack Draper and Aleksandar Vukic in the last 16. Beyond that, he could face record 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in a potential quarterfinal that has been circled since the draw came out.
ZVEREV MATCHES RECORD
By reaching the Australian Open fourth round for the sixth time, Zverev matched Boris Becker’s Open Era record for German men.
With 21 total Grand Slam fourth-round appearances, Zverev now trails only Becker’s 31 for most among German men.A Melbourne semifinalist in both 2020 and 2024, Zverev is bidding for his maiden Grand Slam title this fortnight. A two-time major finalist, he came within a set of glory at the 2020 US Open and last year at Roland Garros.
SABALENKA INTO ROUND 4
It wasn’t often pretty, but two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka extended a few impressive streaks on Friday while becoming one of the first players to advance to the fourth round of the year’s opening Grand Slam tournament.
In a tougher-than-expected match, Sabalenka beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a poor early serving display by both players to open the sixth day of play on Rod Laver Arena.
It was Sabalenka’s eighth match victory in a row to start the season after winning the Brisbane International 10 days ago, and her 17th win in a row at Melbourne Park.
OSAKA RETIRES WITH INJURY
Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka stopped playing because of an injury after dropping the opening set of her third-round match against Belinda Bencic on Friday.
This was Osaka’s first run to the third round at a major tournament since 2022. She missed time in recent seasons because of mental-health breaks, then was off the tour while pregnant. Her daughter, Shai, was born in July 2023.
Osaka began this season by making it to the final of a tournament at Auckland, New Zealand, on Jan. 5, but she stopped playing in the title match there because of an abdominal injury.
On Friday, Osaka – a former No. 1-ranked player who owns a total of four Grand Slam titles – was visited by a trainer during the changeover while she led 6-5.
The trainer examined Osaka’s abdominal area and gave her a pill to take, and play resumed.
After Bencic claimed that set in a tiebreaker by a 7-6 (3) score, taking four of the last five points via unforced errors by Osaka, the chair umpire announced that the match was over after 57 minutes, “due to injury.”(Agencies)