If there is anyone who knows how to assert their dominance at the Australian Open when not feeling their best, it is Novak Djokovic.
The record 10-time champion surged to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 triumph against Tomas Machac to advance to the fourth round in Melbourne for a 17th time. Despite struggling physically, Djokovic overpowered and outfoxed the Czech 26th seed from the baseline to wrap up a clinical two-hour, 22-minute minute victory inside Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic, who had come through four-set triumphs over Nishesh Basavareddy and Jaime Faria en route to the third round, called for the physio during the second set and left for treatment at the end of it. Yet despite dealing with physical challenges, the 37-year-old Serbian was able to produce an assured level of tennis on the court to improve to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Machac.
Machac has been a proven threat on hard courts in recent times. The No. 25 in the PIF ATP Rankings notably stunned Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai in October. Yet Machac was unable to break down Djokovic or reduce his own unforced-error tally, which rose to 35, according to Infosys Stats.
Djokovic, who is now 97-9 in Melbourne, will next face another Czech in Jiri Lehecka, who earlier powered past Benjamin Bonzi 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. The seventh seed is bidding to win a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, and 100th trophy overall.
