Djokovic answers fitness doubts with 4-set victory

MELBOURNE, February 14

Defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic battled through discomfort from a side injury to win his 300th Grand Slam match in a 7-6(4) 4-6 6-1 6-4 victory over Canada’s Milos Raonic.

Djokovic had not hit a tennis ball since his five-set epic against Taylor Fritz two days ago, skipping practice to recover to play Raonic and the Serb kept his bid for a record-extending ninth title in Melbourne alive. “If it’s any other tournament than a Grand Slam, I would withdraw from the event, for sure,” Djokovic said. “I didn’t know before I finished my warm-up whether I’m going to play or not.”

Djokovic faces Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals after the German advanced with a clinical 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 victory over Dusan Lajovic.

Thiem shown the door

The last-eight proved a step too far for Dominic Thiem, however, after the third seed was dumped in straight sets (6-4 6-4 6-0) by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

“I’m not a machine,” said the Austrian who struggled to find the intensity with which he had mounted a comeback to beat Nick Kyrgios in five sets in the previous round.

Simona Halep took revenge for her French Open loss to Iga Swiatek last year by beating the Polish teenager 3-6 6-1 6-4 to set up a clash with Serena Williams who ousted seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 2-6 6-4.

US Open champion Naomi Osaka teetered on the brink of elimination but the third seed saved two match points to see off Garbine Muguruza 4-6 6-4 7-5. — Reuters