Djokovic

It's no secret that Novak Djokovic is fighting against more than his opponents at this year's Australian Open.

Djokovic was given a hero’s welcome in the court he has made his personal proving ground since 2008 when he won his first of nine Australian Open titles. It may have heightened concern in his coaching box, but didn’t seem to fluster Djokovic, who was able to handle the pressure points brilliantly. Visibly hampered by the heavily taped hamstring, Djokovic pulled up gingerly on several points in the opening set out of caution.

Novak Djokovic fired a warning shot to the other Australian Open title contenders with a straight-sets win over Grigor Dimitrov in their third-round match ...

[Australian Open](https://www.tennis365.com/category/australian-open/) Us Aussies, we stick together. “That’s all we do. [Live Tennis](https://www.tennis365.com/category/live-tennis/) However, Dimitrov fought back to force a tiebreak, which Djokovic won in thrilling fashion. [Tennis News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/tennis-news/) [Djokovic](https://www.tennis365.com/tennis-news/novak-djokovics-injury-australian-open/) said after the match. [Djokovic](https://www.tennis365.com/tennis-news/novak-djokovic-disrespectful-fan-injury/) will face Australian Alex de Minaur.

The nine-time winner betrayed signs of hamstring pain, but still beat 27th seed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets.

Another time, he lurched forward to a Dimitrov ball that was hovering over the net, pulled up as if reined in by a jockey and looked up at his box. He called in the physio again, then after a 20-shot rally buckled and ended up on the court again. The gears changed in the third set as Dimitrov went on the offensive and Djokovic manoeuvred to play his best tennis while staying out of trouble. He prides himself on his fitness, and is resilient; no current player has played more majors in a row. Upon tucking away the clinching volley, he stumbled to the court and sat there. Favouring his left leg, he lost his serve, incurred a slow-play warning, and rode fluctuations in the tie-breaker. Somehow, Djokovic willed himself through two long rallies to win the last two points of the set. At the end of points, Djokovic occasionally hopped on his right foot to avoid stomping down on his left. He broke Dimitrov in the first game and assumed control. Trouble struck late in the first set when Djokovic half-slid twice for wide balls and after the second cried out. It was as if he disdained to play Djokovic on handicap conditions. Djokovic was interviewed on court after the match by Jelena Dokic, who did not ask him about his hamstring, leaving the crowd in the dark.

The nine-time champion battled through the pain to set up a blockbuster clash against Alex de Minaur.

“Djokovic with double break in the 3rd set. Another walk in the park, even injured. “First time in the set, break point, time violation. “Well done,” he sarcastically said to the chair umpire at the time. In his on-court interview after the match, Djokovic said he is unsure how he will feel come Monday. “Djokovic wants us to believe he’s injured so why is he rolling around the court.

Novak Djokovic has added his voice to the long list of current and former players asking for the late nights at Grand Slams to become a thing of the past.

[Australian Open](https://www.tennis365.com/category/australian-open/) [News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/news/) I’m just very grateful that I’m actually able to play. [Live Tennis](https://www.tennis365.com/category/live-tennis/) That works for a little bit, then it doesn’t, then works again. [Tennis News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/tennis-news/) For us, it’s really grueling. The way it looked just before the tournament started, I thought that it wouldn’t be possible. “I would agree with his points. That’s the ultimate decision maker. “I think for us players… It’s kind of a circumstances that you have to accept.

Novak Djokovic beat Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-4 despite his hamstring injury and will now face the home favourite Alex de Minaur.

“He has improved a lot, has Lleyton [Hewitt] in his corner – that’s a great team.” “De Minaur is one of the quickest players on the tour, the quickest guy,” he said. How to turn a precarious contest into a regulation win, with one heavily taped leg buckling beneath him, as if it is just the normal thing to do? A minute or so before Djokovic was feeling grateful, he and Dimitrov played a 31-point rally until the latter overcooked a shot to give the Serb two match points. Loth to miss out, Dimitrov did the same, mimicking his close friend, who was about to beat him. He was still on Rod Laver Arena, having survived the pain of his troublesome hamstring and then thrived despite it to see off Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-4.

In this case, it was Jelena Dokic; the Aussie tennis great whose father is Serbian, and briefly lived in Serbia during her childhood. Conducting the post-match ...

But I definitely know who you are now and I remember you now.” “You were a big star at the time and I was really happy to play with you, so it’s great to see you again.” He responded: “To return the compliments to you - I was looking up to you. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Dokic clarified: “No no, do you remember, when was the first time I actually met you here at the Australian Open?”