Current:Home > StocksNovak Djokovic advances into fourth round in 100th Australian Open match -WealthRise Academy
Novak Djokovic advances into fourth round in 100th Australian Open match
View
Date:2025-04-14 23:54:42
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic is starting to feel better about his health and his game, winning in straight sets Friday for the first time this tournament with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (2) victory over Tomas Martin Etcheverry in his 100th Australian Open match.
The 24-time major winner is 92-8 at Melbourne Park, where he’s won the title 10 times and is on a 31-match winning streak.
Only Roger Federer (117) and Serena Williams (105) have played more matches at the season's first major.
Djokovic has had health issues and been dealing with a sore right wrist. He lost sets in each of the first two rounds against 18-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Primzic and Alexei Popyrin, when he challenged a heckler to “say that to my face.”
Next up he faces 35-year-old Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who won a five-setter for the third straight round to advance 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 over U.S. Open semifinalist Ben Shelton.
NEVER MISS A MOMENT:Follow our sports newsletter for daily updates
“I played better than I did in the first two rounds, so that’s a positive change, I guess.” Djokovic said. “Starting to feel better game-wise and physically, as well. It’s positive signs (but) I still haven’t been playing at my best.”
Against Etcheverry, he didn't even face a breakpoint.
Not that No. 30 seed didn't challenge him, really going for his ground strokes and chasing down drop shots — to the point where he had to veer off court to avoid the net in the third set and nearly crashed into the umpire's chair.
Djokovic, as he got closer to victory, started to put his index finger to his ear after hitting winners, bringing more support and noise from the Rod Laver Arena crowd.
After closing with a pair of aces to move into the fourth round here for the 16th time, his celebration was calm.
“It was a great match,” Djokovic said. "The best performance I had during this tournament. I’m pleased with he way I played, particularly the first two sets.
“He raised his level in the third set (and) we went toe-to-toe.”
Djokovic took to the court when the match between lefthanders Mannarino and Shelton was going into the second set. He was in a post-match news news conference when the result of that match was relayed to him. Noted.
Djokovic beat Shelton in the U.S. Open semifinals one match before capturing his record 24th Grand Slam singles title, and there was tension in the wake of it.
Djokovic copied Shelton's “Hang up the phone!” celebration gesture after that win, and comments in the French media earlier this week confirmed he did mock it in retaliation to some unsporting provocation.
He elaborated Friday that Shelton was going on court believing he can challenge the best players in the world and “I don’t dislike that at all.”
“But there is obviously some kind of line, non-visible line, of acceptable behavior I guess towards the other player,” he said. "If a player steps over that line, then obviously it starts being annoying. That’s when you react or you don’t react, whatever. It just depends. That rematch will have to wait for another time.
Potential quarterfinalists in that section are 2023 Australian runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Luca Van Assche 6-3, 6-0, 6-4, and No. 12 Taylor Fritz, who held off Fabian Morozsan 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 4 Jannik Sinner is in hot form in the bottom of this half of the draw, advancing to the round of 16 without losing a set after a 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Sebastian Baez. He next faces 15th-seeded Karen Khachanov, who beat Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5).
In another night match, local hope Alex de Minaur continued his run with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. win over Flavio Cobolli.
veryGood! (22)
Related
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- Nigeria hit by another mass kidnapping, with more than 300 now believed missing
- Olivia Culpo Reveals She Was Dismissed By At Least 12 Doctors Before Endometriosis Diagnosis
- Cat falls into vat of toxic chemicals and runs away, prompting warning in Japanese city
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- US wholesale prices picked up in February in sign that inflation pressures remain elevated
- Wriggling gold: Fishermen who catch baby eels for $2,000 a pound hope for many years of fishing
- Aaron Rodgers responds to report he espoused Sandy Hook shooting conspiracy theory
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Internet mocks Free People 'micro' shorts, rebranding item as 'jundies,' 'vajeans,' among others
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Kristin Cavallari Shares Glimpse at Spring Break With Kids After Romance Debut
- Maryland lawmakers consider new plan to rebuild Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness
- Kyle Richards talks Morgan Wade kiss, rumors at 'RHOBH' reunion: 'I said yes for a reason'
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Stumpy, D.C.'s beloved short cherry tree, to be uprooted after cherry blossoms bloom
- Someone stole all the Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads the Pittsburgh Penguins planned to give away
- Neil Young is returning to Spotify after boycotting platform over Joe Rogan and COVID-19 misinformation
Recommendation
FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
Internet mocks Free People 'micro' shorts, rebranding item as 'jundies,' 'vajeans,' among others
Justin Timberlake reunites with NSYNC for first performance in 11 years: 'Let's do it again'
Top Democrat Schumer calls for new elections in Israel, saying Netanyahu has ‘lost his way’
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Minnie Driver Reveals the Advice She'd Give Her Younger Self After Matt Damon Split
What You Need to Know About Olivia Munn's Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Kristin Cavallari Shares Glimpse at Spring Break With Kids After Romance Debut