Novak Djokovic reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday with great pain and difficulty. The 21-time Grand Slam winner also struggled with hamstring complaints in the match against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, but nevertheless won in three sets: 7-6 (7), 6-3 and 6-4.
The 35-year-old Djokovic already suffered from his upper leg in his previous match against the Frenchman Enzo Couacaud and his hamstring also played up again against Dimitrov. At the end of the first set, he had himself treated by a physiotherapist after he had to go deep to win the first set. He was then bandaged around his thigh.
He also grabbed his upper leg several times in the third set. After another medical timeout, he was barely able to walk on several occasions. In addition, he visibly restrained several times to prevent worse suffering. But the hamstring complaints did not stand in the way of Djokovic in the next round.
Djokovic only had a hard time against Dimitrov in the first set. The Bulgarian hard court specialist got a total of three set points, but Djokovic cleared them all and struck on his fifth set point. In the second and third sets, the global number four was in a class apart from the global number 28.
Djokovic will face Alex De Minaur in the fourth round. The home player was too strong for the Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi in three sets on the night from Friday to Saturday. After the elimination of Nadal and Daniil Medvedev, Djokovic is the big favorite for the overall victory.
In Melbourne, Djokovic is chasing his tenth title at the Australian Open. He last won the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in 2021, but was unable to defend his title last year. He was then forced to leave Australia because he has not been vaccinated against corona.
Koolhof and Haase eliminated, Schuurs will continue
Wesley Koolhof and Robin Haase were eliminated in the mixed doubles. Koolhof had no chance with the Japanese Ena Shibahara against the Australian duo Olivia Gadecki/Marc Polmans. After just over an hour there was 6-2 and 6-2 for the Australians on the scoreboard.
Haase and his Chinese partner Zhang Shuai won the first set against the Australians Alana Parnaby and Andrew Harris 6-4, but they lost the second in the tiebreak: 7-6 (6). The decisive match tiebreak then went 10-8 to the Australian couple.
Demi Schuurs did reach the second round of the mixed doubles. With the Croatian Nikola Mektic, the 29-year-old from Limburg won via a match tiebreak against the Australian couple Samantha Stosur/Matthew Ebden: 4-6, 6-3 and 10-6.
Uitslagen derde ronde Australian Open mannen
- Novak Djokovic (Ser, 4)-Grigor Dimitrov (Bul, 27) 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-4
- Roberto Bautista Agut (Spa, 24)-Andy Murray (Sch) 6-1, 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-4
- Alex de Minaur (Aus, 22)-Benjamin Bonzi (Fra) 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-1
