What doesn’t kill Novak Djokovic makes him stronger. On Friday night at Melbourne Park it was not only a dangerous opponent but also a stomach bug that left him green and calling for the doctor midway through the second set. The Serb even felt the electronic line calling system was against him.
But the march of Melbourne Park’s most persecuted continues towards a 25th grand slam title after he dispatched 26th seed Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in 142 minutes to book a place in the fourth round. He had surprisingly dropped a set against two lower-ranked opponents in the early rounds, but Djokovic looked formidable here in a brutal display of grinding groundstrokes and supreme physicality.
“This is definitely the best match I’ve played in the tournament,” he said. “I was slightly surprised to be honest with the result, to beat him straight sets.”
This was a contest of long, see-sawing rallies between two players that – apart from Machac’s underdeveloped serve – appeared well-matched. Ending after just three sets, those who filled Rod Laver Arena on a windy but warm evening in Melbourne were left wanting more.
Djokovic overcomes sickness to beat Machac at Australian Open; Draper sets up clash with Alcaraz
Naomi Osaka forced to retire at Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka overcomes wobbles
US qualifier Learner Tien stuns Daniil Medvedev in five-set epic at Australian Open
Emma Raducanu reached out to avoid ‘bad blood’ with Murray over withdrawal
But for a moment they might have got even less. Early in the second set the 24-time grand slam winner started to double over on the court, and buried his head at the change of ends. He looked ill, but remarkably was able to maintain his performance. Indeed, after a medical visit and some prescription drugs he appeared to improve his play. He declined to elaborate afterwards, saying only that he was trying to catch his breath. “I’m not 19 any more,” he said. “I’m 19 times two, almost.”
Although the 37-year-old was broken early in that second set, the Serbian leaned heavily on his serve, and dropped just four points in the entire third frame. It served as the major difference between the players, and the most one-sided of the three matches the pair have played.
Apart from his illness, Djokovic was animated throughout the match in exchanges with his box which this year features Andy Murray. And he managed to find another enemy in the robot doing line calls. Late in the third a member of the crowd called out during a play, enraging the 37-year-old.
But as he often has, Djokovic channelled his fury and powered a backhand past the unfortunate Machac on match point, gesturing towards one fan who had heckled him throughout the evening as he met his opponent at the net. Another seeded Czech, world No 29 Jiri Lehecka, awaits Djokovic in the fourth round.
At Margaret Court Arena, Jack Draper survived a third consecutive five-set match to set up a fourth-round clash with Carlos Alcaraz.
After going the distance against both Mariano Navone and Thanasi Kokkinakis, Draper again came from two sets to one down to see off unseeded Australian Aleksandar Vukic.
This time he could not be separated from his unheralded but impressive opponent until a deciding tie-break, which he just edged to clinch a 6-4 2-6 5-7 7-6 (5) 7-6 (10/8) victory at 12.55am local time.
Draper has spent more than 12 and a half hours on court during his three matches and he must now try to recover for a first grand slam meeting with third seed Alcaraz.
The Spaniard saw off Nuno Borges to proceed to Sunday’s fourth round, while his compatriot Alejandro Davidovich set up a meeting with USA’s Tommy Paul, and Ugo Humbert of France will face Germany’s Alexander Zverev. – Guardian
