Australian Open: Novak Djokovic after fight in the quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic is in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2019 after a partly hard-fought four-set victory against Daniil Medvedev. The Serbian industry leader meets Kei Nishikori there.
by tennisnet
last edit: Jan 21, 2019, 03:14 pm
Novak Djokovic had led 6: 2, 4: 1, everything seemed to result in a painstakingly elaborated but smooth result against Daniil Mevedev. But then the Russian not only started a comeback to equalize, he also got the tie-break straight away, making it 1-1 in sets. However, the parallels to the Sunday match between Roger Federer and Stefanos Tsitsipas were also exhausted - because in the end the favorite won out somewhat confidently.
Djokovic won 6: 4, 6: 7 (5), 6: 2 and 6: 3 and will face Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. Who will not go into the game particularly fresh: At his fourth appearance in Melbourne 2019, the Japanese had to go the full distance for the third time. And as against Ivo Karlovic, even a match tie-break had to decide on the outcome of the game against Pablo Carreno Busta. The Japanese had just about the better end for himself.
Medvedev donates nothing to Djokovic
In round three, Djokovic had already kicked Denis Shapovalov, a representative of the next generation, out of the tournament. In contrast to Medvedev, the Canadian had made a number of simple mistakes. The Russian went most of the rallies with Djokovic at high speed - and especially put pressure on himself with his flat backhand.
In the middle of the third set, the pendulum swung in favor of the tournament favorite - also because Novak Djokovic was the fitter player. In the fourth round, Medvedev started a final offensive in the Serbs first serve game, Djokovic fended off a break chance. And then got the serve from Medvedev to 2-1. At this point at the latest the resistance of the outsider was broken, Novak Djokovic sailed unerringly towards the quarter-finals. Even if the Russian could work out another break.
Medvedev fended off the first two match balls in the ninth game of the fourth set, before Djokovic's forehand found the goal.