Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after defeating Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria of their third-round match on the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on January 21, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
An ailing Novak Djokovic floor previous Grigor Dimitrov on Saturday and into the final 16 because the nine-time Australian Open champion edged nearer to a record-equalling twenty second Grand Slam title.
The Serbian fourth seed got here by way of a titanic 77-minute first set earlier than taming the Bulgarian 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena, needing remedy twice on his troublesome hamstring.
He will face residence hope Alex de Minaur for a spot within the quarter-finals after the twenty second seed equalled his finest end result on the event by breezing previous Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 7-6 (7/0), 6-2, 6-1.
Djokovic’s win not solely inched him nearer to equalling Rafael Nadal’s 22-Slam report but additionally to a tenth title, which might see him return to world primary for the primary time since June.
Victory put him into the final 16 for a fifteenth time, equalling Nadal in second place on the Open-era listing for appearances within the Australian Open fourth spherical behind Roger Federer’s 18.
“Every point, every game mattered,” he stated. “I think the turning point for both players was right from the blocks, very first game making an early break for me was important.
“Obviously, I did not know the way I’m going to really feel bodily, it was going up and down.
“It was an incredible battle, three sets over three hours. Let’s rest up and prepare for the next one.”
Djokovic aggravated his hamstring throughout his run to a 92nd title on the Adelaide International this month and has been scuffling with it since.
He got here into the match with out his normal off-day observe session to present his leg as a lot time as attainable to get well.
With his left thigh once more closely strapped, the Serb broke instantly and consolidated to take an early grip on the primary set.
He was cruising however appeared to really feel the damage when transferring for a shot at 5-3. He managed to earn three set factors, which have been saved, however was then damaged when serving for the set at 5-4.
Agitated, he complained to the umpire about being given a time violation and was then pressured to save lots of two set factors earlier than an epic tiebreak.
He finally obtained over the road on his fifth set level, having saved one other one from the Bulgarian twenty seventh seed, after some intense tennis.
Djokovic took a medical timeout on the changeover and returned to dial up the stress and take a break earlier than comfortably seeing out the second set.
With Dimitrov flagging, he turned the screws additional by breaking twice early in set three and, regardless of a mid-set wobble when the Bulgarian clawed again after which extra remedy on his leg, he battled to the end line.
De Minaur, who’s gunning to make his first quarter-final at Melbourne Park, now awaits after having little bother getting previous Bonzi. The Australian stated he was up for the problem.
“These are the matches you want to be playing,” he stated. “I’m gonna probably have the best in the world in front of me, and I’m ready for the battle.”
