Novak Djokovic, who had reportedly skipped practice on Saturday as he awaited medical advise on an abdominal injury, took court against Milos Raonic in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday.
The eight-time Australian Open champion overcame a slow start to defeat the Canadian 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours and 56 minutes.
ALSO READ: Dominic Thiem crashes out of the Australian Open
Djokovic’s title defence had seemed in doubt as he struggled past Taylor Fritz in five sets in the previous round. The World No 1 had feared that he had an abdominal tear during the intense third-round encounter.
“I had no preparation for this match,” said Djokovic.
Sharpen your backhand with our FREE guide
“I used every hour I had to recover since the Taylor match. My physio and those of the ATP and Australian Open gave me their best support to get on the court. I have definitely been fitter in the past and I will continue to take each day one at a time.”
3⃣0⃣0⃣ reasons to 😁@DjokerNole records his 300th Grand Slam match win, defeating Raonic 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 💥#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/kUyTALlw8s
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 14, 2021
But once on court, Djokovic showed few signs of the abdominal muscle injury and struck 41 winners in the match. He improved to a perfect 12-0 ATP Head2Head record against the Canadian, who had strapping applied to his right ankle in the second set.
ALSO READ: ‘Let me play!’ Medvedev asks coach to leave arena
The World No. 1 became only the second man (after Roger Federer) to record 300 match wins at the four Grand Slam championships (300-45).
After the match, Djokovic said that he was on painkillers and unsure of how much damage he had done to body by playing through the injury.
ALSO READ: Tennis fan explains obscene gesture to Rafael Nadal
He will take on Alexander Zverev in the last eight. The German scored a 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3 over Dusan Lajovic earlier in the day.
Simona Halep avenges French Open defeat to Iga Swiatek
Second seed Simona Halep defeated Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the Australian Open fourth round on Sunday as the Romanian avenged her shock defeat by the Polish teenager at the same stage of last year’s French Open.
Halep overcame an error-prone opening set to seal her 100th Grand Slam match win to set up an eagerly anticipated quarter-final clash with Serena Williams.
"The game, I think it was one of the best in my life"@Simona_Halep recalls her win over Serena at Wimbledon in 2019. The #AO2021 quarterfinal will be the 12th meeting between the pair 🔥#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/0BjGrSvmW7
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 14, 2021
Swiatek, who knocked out Halep en route to her maiden Grand Slam title in Paris, troubled Halep with her powerful forehands early on. But the Romanian started working her around the court more and won five successive games over the second and third set to clinch victory.
ALSO READ: All-Italian affair turns ugly as Fognini clashes with Caruso
“I knew I had to change something, because I was hitting too strong and too flat,” Halep, the 2018 finalist, said. “I moved her a little bit better and that’s why she started to miss and probably lost her rhythm.
“The court is very fast and not easy, because it is sliding so much, but I am just trying to focus on myself as much as possible.”
ALSO READ: Karolina Pliskova clashes with umpire before defeat
Ahead of her quarter-final against Williams, Halep can draw confidence from their previous meeting when she secured only her second win over the American to claim the 2019 Wimbledon title.
“Legend. She is the best,” Halep said of her longtime rival. “It is always tough, I have experience, so many matches against her. I will just try to enjoy and play my best, because you only beat Serena if you play your best.”
, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round of the Australian Open){kind=link}