Novak Djokovic made more history in Melbourne on Saturday when he became the first player ever to reach 400 Grand Slam singles wins on his way to the Australian Open fourth round for an 18th time.
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The 38-year-old enjoyed a fast start against big-hitting Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, and just about kept his opponent at arm’s length through the much tighter second and third sets to go through 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) under the Rod Laver Arena roof.
The result moves the 24-time Grand Slam champion onto 102 wins at Melbourne Park, equalling Roger Federer’s career tally at the opening Grand Slam of the year.
Although the scoreline says it was fairly straightforward for the fourth seed, there were moments of real stress against a player who had beaten him at Indian Wells last spring.
Djokovic looked visibly frustrated during a tense second set, took a medical time out for treatment to his foot early in the next set, and saved two set points on serve at 5-6 late in that third chapter.
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Djokovic will continue his bid on Monday for an 11th Australian Open title against recent Auckland champion Jakub Mensik from Czechia, the youngster who beat him in last season’s Miami final.
"I relaxed a little bit too much and was in trouble to close out the second set, and pretty much from that moment onwards it was really anybody's game,” said Djokovic who remains on a collision course with second seed Jannik Sinner in the semifinals.
“Really lucky to get out of trouble on the set point in the third – he had the upper hand in that point and things happen so quickly in this sport. One shot can really determine the winner, so just glad to win it in straights.
“It’s been a great start of the tournament. Obviously things can change. I’m not getting ahead of myself because last year I learned a lesson, I got too excited too early in some of the Grand Slams playing really well getting to the quarters and semis and then getting injured in pretty much three of the four last year.
“I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money."
The first set came to life in the fourth game when Djokovic engineered a break point with Van de Zandschulp serving at 1-2.
The Dutchman took control early in the rally when he ripped a short forehand crosscourt but somehow the Serb stayed in the point, then threw up an inch-perfect lob to push his opponent back deep and eventually came out on top of a remarkable 26-shot exchange to break.
The world No.4 almost broke again with the help of two eye-popping backhand passes when the Dutchman served at 2-5, but soon went on to wrap up an impressive set 6-3.
At stages during the opener, Van de Zandschulp appeared to grimace on contacting the ball and whatever was causing him discomfort appeared to be worsening early in the second.
Djokovic broke in the first game, held for 2-0, and after he opened up a double-break lead the physio got to work on his opponent’s right shoulder at the change of ends.
Perhaps thrown off rhythm by the three-minute medical time out, Djokovic produced his first shaky game on serve to allow Van de Zandschulp to recover one of the breaks, and the Dutchman battled through a tricky hold of serve to get back to his chair at 2-3.
The medical assistance seemed to have given the world No.75 more freedom in his shoulder and he was now striking a slightly heavier ball, frustrating Djokovic with some big hits.
Djokovic was visibly frustrated, and when he survived a long sixth game to move ahead 4-2 the former world No.1 let out a huge celebratory roar.
Up two sets to love, things didn’t get any easier for the 10-time AO champion early in the next set. He stumbled and almost rolled his ankle in the third game, and took his own medical time out for treatment to his foot at the next change of ends.
After swapping breaks early in the set, the match truly came to life in the 12th game with Djokovic serving to stay in the set at 5-6.
The Serb played one of his best points of the match to survive a first set point, and then fought off another to scramble into a tiebreak.
After Djokovic jumped to a 3-1 lead, back came Van de Zandschulp by winning a 16-shot rally to switch ends at 3-3, only for the Dutchman’s game to desert him when it mattered most.
He missed a makeable volley, a short backhand and then a backhand drive to give Djokovic three match points at 6-3, and although the Serb double faulted on the first, he could finally celebrate when another Van de Zandschulp groundstroke flew long.