Novak Djokovic maintained his perfect record in the third round of the Australian Open earlier today, as he breezed past Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.
The Serbian was faultless for the first two sets, but had to dig deep in the third to quell his hampered but resurgent opponent.
In the end, he rolled back the years to play an impressive tiebreak, thus sealing the win.
It was a tumultuous match for both players, with both actually taking medical time-outs during the affair.
Novak Djokovic, following his win, then offered an important update on his fitness.
Novak Djokovic reacts after reaching the Australian Open fourth round
Speaking to Jim Courier on-court in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena, the 39-year-old first touched on Van de Zandschulp’s time-out, which saw him return revitalised.
“It was a pretty good treatment, I must say,” he began, with a smile, drawing a laugh from the Australian Open crowd. “It gave him a lot of firepower. He was serving extremely well from that moment onwards.
Who has been the best player at the Australian Open so far?
“I think at the beginning of the second he did struggle with the arm and I could see the kilometres per hour went down a bit so I had more looks at his serve and then the tables turned and I must say that I relaxed a little bit too much and was in trouble to close out the second set and from that moment onwards it was anybody’s game.
“I was really lucky to get out of the trouble in set point in the third. He had the upper hand, and things happen so quickly in this sport that one shot can determine the winner, so I’m just glad to overcome it in straights.”
Djokovic then provided an update on his own injury worries, adding: “A few points before I almost twisted my ankle. I asked for the physio. I was planning to see him for my blisters, and then thankfully I managed to have a good fall, if you can say so, and protect myself. Things could have been very ugly in that moment.”
Djokovic was told what he must do to stand a chance of winning the Australian Open just a few days ago. His continued success suggests he is heeding that advice.
Novak Djokovic is still aiming to overcome Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Djokovic was not finished there though, and concluded by speaking about his continued and unrelenting desire to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for the sport’s elite honours.
A four-time semi-finalist at the Grand Slams last year, he was close, but not close enough.
He will be desperate to take that next step, and noted: “I must say that it has been a great start to the tournament, things can change. I am not getting ahead of myself.
“Last year, I learned a lesson. I got too excited too early in Grand Slams. Playing really well and getting to quarters and semis and then getting injured pretty much three out of four last year. But I am still trying to give these young guys a push for their money, I am still around and hanging in there.
How far do you think Novak Djokovic will go at the Australian Open?
“Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world; they are playing on a different level from all of us right now. But when you enter the court, you always have a chance, so particularly here in definitely the court which has given me the most in my career. So I look forward to the next battle.”
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