Made to work by Australian Alexei Popyrin, world number one Novak Djokovic rallied through four sets for the second time in a week, notching a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory after three hours and 11 minutes to progress to the Australian Open third round for the 16th time in his career at Melbourne Park.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who on Monday battled through the longest first-round match of his career against qualifier Dino Prizmic, survived another four-set challenging test to keep alive his quest for a record-extending 11th AO title when he faced World No. 43 Popyrin on Wednesday.
In his on-court interview, the top seed assessed the encounter, outlining: “He was the better player for a set and a half; second set and third set, he was the better player.
“The momentum shifted in the tiebreak. I managed to put one ball more in the court than he did. I don’t think I played at the highest level. In some instances, yes. But also credit to him for tactically serving at the right game plan, serving big. He deserves a big round of applause for the performance.”
On Friday, he will play 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry; the Argentine is on an impressive run Down Under, having ousted five-time AO runner-up Andy Murray and Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in his first couple of matches at the major, without dropping a single set.
Djokovic Title Defense Lives On
The defending champion made a solid start to a tight first set in which he converted the lone break point in the eighth game to pull ahead, committing just five unforced errors to 17 from the home player to close out 6-3 in 39 minutes.
Then, Popyrin set the tone of an intricate second set, raising his level to build a 3-1 lead following a break of serve, his first during the match.
Meanwhile, Djokovic found a way to narrow the gap in the ninth game, breaking the Sydney native, who quickly shut the door, breaking back to draw level ahead of an electrifying third set.
The atmosphere at the Rod Laver Arena was tense and intense, with the crowd supporting the Australian playing on home soil against the all-time favorite.
After the match, the top seed commented fans were shouting between the first and second serve; he briefly exchanged a few words with a spectator who irritated the player, but ultimately, the battle between the two on the court was what took the spotlight.
Djokovic, who hasn’t found his best form yet, pulled an extra gear, but so did the 24-year-old, who managed to keep an advantage for much of the set.
However, the Serbian flipped the script behind his serve, regrouping from 4-5 0-40 down, saving four set points across an over 8-minute game, holding at 5-5.
Eventually, they headed into a tiebreak, which the Belgrade-born stole 7-6(4) as his rival hit a forehand long.
“He had quite an easy forehand, and he missed it. I didn’t do anything special,” Djokovic asserted when asked about that point.
“I was lucky on that point and in that game to get away.”
The 36-year-old took a clinical break in the sixth game and never looked back, sealing the fourth set 6-3 and the contest.
He won 82 percent on his first serve and 59 on his second, striking 11 aces.
In addition, he hit 31 winners to Popyrin’s 52, committing less unforced errors, 32 to 58.
“I haven’t been playing my best, but I am still trying to find the form,” the 92-time ATP winner added.
“I think both my first and second-round opponents were great quality tennis players. I managed to find a way to win in four. That’s what counts in the end, and hopefully, I’ll be able to build as this tournament progresses.”