Ailing Djokovic battles past Dimitrov to stay on course at Australian Open

An ailing Novak Djokovic eased past Grigor Dimitrov on Saturday and into the last 16 as the nine-time Australian Open champion moves closer to a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title.

The Serbian fourth seed came through a 77-minute first set before taming Bulgaria 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 6-4 at the Rod Laver Arena, needing a second treatment on his troublesome hamstring.

He will face top seed Alex de Minaur for a place in the quarter-finals after the 22nd seed equaled his best result of the tournament by beating Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 7-6 (7/0), 6-2, 6-1.

Djokovic’s victory not only moved him closer to Rafael Nadal’s record 22-Slam but also his 10th title, which would see him return to world number one for the first time since June.

The win took him to his 15th round of last 16, tied with Nadal for second on the Open-Era list for Australian Open fourth-round appearances behind Roger Federer’s 18th.

“Every point, every game is important,” he said. “I think the turning point for both players was straight from the blocks, the first game that made the early break for me important.

“Obviously, I don’t know how I feel physically, it’s going up and down.

“It was an incredible fight, three sets in three hours. Let’s rest and prepare for the next one.”

Djokovic strained his hamstring during his run to his 92nd title at the Adelaide International this month and has struggled ever since.

He came to the match without his usual training session to give himself as much time as possible to recover.

With his left thigh again tied, the Serb immediately broke and consolidated to take an early hold in the first set.

He walked but looked injured while moving to take it 5-3. He was able to earn three set points, which he saved, but was broken when serving for the set at 5-4.

Agitated, he complained to the referee for a time violation and was then forced to save two set points before an epic tiebreak.

She finally got over the line in the fifth set point, after saving another one from the 27th seed from Bulgaria, after some strong tennis.

Djokovic took a medical timeout in the changeover and returned to press up the pressure and rest before comfortably seeing out the second set.

With Dimitrov flagging, he turned the screws further by breaking twice at the beginning of the third set and, despite a mid-set wobble when the Bulgarian clawed back and then another treatment on the leg, he fought for the finish line.

De Minaur, who is looking to make his first quarter-final at Melbourne Park, is now waiting after having a little trouble getting past Bonzi. Australia says it is ready for the challenge.

“This is a match you want to play,” he said. “Maybe I’ll have the best of both worlds, and I’m ready to fight.”

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