Australian Open: Novak Djokovic Fights Off Injury To Reach Fourth Round

 

Novak Djokovic defied struggle with hamstring insjury to win in straight sets 7-6(7) 6-3 6-4 against Grigor Dimitrov and reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. 

"I didn't know how I was going to feel physically," Djokovic said. "I was goig up and down. Grigor is someone that I truly admire and respect."

Dimitrov was in top shape in the opning set and rallied from 5-3 to drag the set into a tiebreak as Djokovic battled with injury. Eventually, the Serb outlasted him winning a set point with a forehand cross-court dropshot. 

"I thought a double break in the third was going to be enough, byt he was locked in," Djokovic recalled. "Up until the very last shot, I did not know if I was going to prevail. It was an incredible battle."

Subsequent sets witnessed a resurgence of the Serb, who is vying for his tenth title. Though Djokovic took an early lead of both sets, yet Dimitrov rallied from 5-1 in the decider and the fourth seed won after winning break for a match point. 

Over all, Djokovic served 28 winners with 22 unforced error on his 11th head-to-head encounter with the Bulgarian.