Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic beat Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets -- 7-6(9-7) 6-3 6-4 -- to move in the last 16 of the Australian Open despite a labored performance from ...

But Djokovic pulled up feeling his hamstring later in the first set and was forced to take a medical timeout after winning a grueling tie break. 5 who was visibly struggling to move at points during the match. After some treatment, Djokovic returned a new man and took advantage of Dimitrov’s loose play to take the second set comfortably.

Novak Djokovic continued his charge towards a 10th Australian Open title with a superb victory over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov to reach the fourth round on ...

"Ultimately he's one of the best players in the world, and I'm just going to have to take it to him and not shy away from the occasion. I don't know what awaits, but I do hope and I have faith for the best." I'm just very grateful that I'm actually able to play. Djokovic said: "It kind of always starts well and then some movement happens and then it gets worse. Having beaten Dimitrov nine times in their previous 10 meetings probably helped. It's kind of circumstances that you have to accept.

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.

After battling past Grigor Dimitrov, an ailing Novak Djokovic said on Saturday that every moment counted now that he was in the 'last stage' of his career.

He was cruising, but appeared to feel the injury when moving for a shot at 5-3. That works for a little bit, then it doesn’t, then it works again. I love the sport, I love competing. He managed to earn three set points, which were saved, but was then broken when serving for the set at 5-4. Victory put Djokovic into the last 16 for a 15th time, but he was made to work for it, especially with his left hamstring troubling him. I can’t be more grateful than I am.”

Novak Djokovic admitted his hamstring issue is a concern following his third-round win against Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open.

I don't know what awaits, but I do hope and I have faith for the best.” “I think I started the match really well, feeling good. The first match was good. I just found a way to win in such an exciting match, big battle, over three hours for three sets,” Djokovic said. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings if he wins a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title in Melbourne, was pleased with how he battled against the 27th seed. However, question marks remain over the Serbian’s fitness as he once again struggled with a hamstring injury.

Down Under, the big topics up top include Novak Djokovic's hamstring as he tries to find his way to a 22nd Grand Slam title.

This all has lent a different tenor to Week 2 and whether he can surpass de Minaur, then perhaps the scary Rublev (who has lost one set), then what would become a staggering 33rd Grand Slam final berth. Even an impressive win over 28th-ranked Dimitrov “kind of went up and down,” a testament to his customary standard given he has lost only one set. He’s the last of the old guard long resisting (and mauling) this young wave, with Federer retired, When Jelena Ostapenko plays Gauff, that pits a player who won the French at 20 (Ostapenko in 2017) against a player who reached the French final at 18 (Gauff in 2022). To a reporter’s question about how it goes with that pain through a match, Djokovic elaborated. When he emerged in Seoul last September to team with fellow South Korean Soonwoo Kwon in doubles, he said to the ATP Tour, “I’m feeling just so happy to play tennis again.” He remains just 26 years old. It ended with Djokovic raving and Chung saying, “Today my dreams come true,” and noting that he might ask for a photo with Djokovic someday. The bandage drapes the left hamstring, whose infirmity might have made Djokovic’s three-set win over Grigor Dimitrov in Saturday’s third round sort of a surprise. His win over Djokovic went 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). It’s rich in nationality clusters: three Czechs, two Chinese, two Poles, two Belarusians and two Americans (Gauff and Jessica Pegula). [the final 16](https://ausopen.com/draws) of the Australian Open men’s singles draw could entice a cartoonist. 1 (Karolina Pliskova), a marvel whose teen years won’t end until March 2024 (Coco Gauff) and a player even younger (17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova).

The nine-times champion is through to the fourth round, but not without a few dramas against No 27 seed Grigor Dimitrov. Djokovic grimaced with pain and fell to ...

The nine-times champion is through to the fourth round, but not without a few dramas against No 27 seed Grigor Dimitrov. That works for a little bit, then it doesn’t, then works again. Djokovic was more forthcoming about the ongoing injury which required treatment through an official medical timeout after he had narrowly clinched the first set.

Speaking to Eurosport, tennis legend Boris Becker suggested claims that Novak Djokovic is "bluffing" with his injury are wide of the mark.

Iga Swiatek cracks under pressure – ‘I felt like I took a step back. [Australian Open](https://www.tennis365.com/category/australian-open/) I don’t know what awaits, but I do hope and I have faith for the best.” I’m just very grateful that I’m actually able to play. Djokovic said: “It kind of always starts well and then some movement happens and then it gets worse. “Novak is now going for the quick points,” he added. [Speaking to Eurosport](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/australian-open/2023/boris-becker-thinks-novak-djokovic-is-trying-to-shorten-points-at-australian-open-due-to-injury_sto9341917/story.shtml), tennis legend Becker suggested claims that Djokovic is “bluffing” with his injury are wide of the mark. [Tennis News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/tennis-news/) It’s kind of circumstances that you have to accept. That also makes it difficult for the opponent. But Novak wouldn’t behave like that if he had nothing.” “Sometimes you think he’s bluffing or can’t finish the game.

The nine-time champion in Melbourne has been carrying a hamstring issue for two weeks but is still managing to come through his matches, though Becker shut down ...

But Becker claimed that the Serb’s decision to play quicker given his injury could have helped him against the former world No 3. But Djokovic’s former coach Becker was quick to respond to the accusations, claiming that he knew 21-time Grand Slam champion was struggling. The nine-time champion in Melbourne has been carrying a hamstring issue for two weeks but is still managing to come through his matches, though Becker shut down suggestions that Djokovic was physically fine despite admitting that it could appear as though he was “bluffing”. He explained: “Novak is now going for the quick points. The fourth seed safely made it to the second week in Melbourne but has needed multiple medical time outs and hasn’t shied away from admitting that [his thigh was “not good at all”.](/sport/tennis/1723446/Novak-Djokovic-startling-admission-injury-Australian-Open-doubt-tennis-news) But Novak wouldn't behave like that if he had nothing.” Becker’s comments come after Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has added his voice to calls for changes to be made to the Australian Open schedule amid growing concern over player welfare.

That time, those few hours, can make a difference to the players. “If you did that, you could also potentially bring the night sessions slightly earlier, as well, like 6.00 or 6.30. The people who bought ground passes would get to see more of the top players, which would be excellent for them. “You’d still get quality matches during the day. “That would stop the day matches running into the night session starting too late. That’s the ultimate decision-maker.

After brutal scheduling that's seen matches finish as late as 4am, Novak Djokovic has joined the chorus of players and pundits pleading with Australian Open ...

The Scot is calling for changes to the brutal scheduling The Serb has been forced to use multiple injury timeouts during the tournament I'm just very grateful that I'm actually able to play,' Djokovic said. It's kind of a circumstances that you have to accept. That works for a little bit, then it doesn't, then works again. 'It's no secret that I love playing here in my backyard. 'You'd still get quality matches during the day. Whether it's decisive, we know that it's not because it comes down to what the TV broadcasters want to have. That's the ultimate decision maker,' said the Serb. Novak Djokovic reacts after winning a point against Grigor Dimitrov in his win on Saturday night. That that's the most important thing,' Murray said after the loss on Saturday night. You have your sleeping cycle, rhythm disrupted completely, not enough time really to recover for another five-setter.