Djokovic Moves Onward in Melbourne Into Round of 16

January 17, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Novak Djokovic won his 27th consecutive match on Friday at the Australian Open, reaching the fourth round in Melbourne after a 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 win over Denis Istomin. The Djokovic has not lost a match since the U.S. Open finals in September when he fell to Rafael Nadal, a streak of 27 wins in a row with titles in Beijing, Shanghai, Paris and at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Djokovic moves on to face the 15th-seeded Fabio Fognini after Fognini’s 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 win over American Sam Querrey. Djokovic, who is on the hunt for his fourth consecutive Australian Open title and fifth overall, takes a 6-0 lifetime record into the fourth round against Fognini.

“He's a clay court specialist, so that's where he made his best results,” said Djokovic of Fognini. “But lately he's been performing really well on hard court. Today, he beat Sam Querrey, who is a hard court specialist, big serve, in form, and Fabio won. I don't take anything easy. I try to do as best as possible.”

The number seven seed, Tomas Berdych, also advanced to the fourth round in Melbourne on Friday, after his 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over the 188th-ranked Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia. Berdych will next face big South African Kevin Anderson, who came back from two sets down to defeat Edouard Roger-Vasselin 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 7-5 in just under four hours.

"I'm really pleased with the way I've just kept my mental fortitude and given myself a chance to get back in these matches," said Anderson. "Maybe not starting the match exactly as planned, but I think playing three out of five sets, that's one thing, you do have time. If you can keep going, there's sometimes a way back. I've been able to capitalize on two of those matches so far."

Spain’s Tommy Robredo advanced in upset fashion as well on Friday, defeating the ninth seeded Richard Gasquet 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(6) in three hours and 19 minutes. Awaiting Robredo in round four is Stanislas Wawrinka, a walkover winner of the 28th-seeded Canadian Vasek Pospisil on Friday. Robredo is 6-1 lifetime over Wawrinka.

The number three seeded, David Ferrer, also advanced to round four on Friday, after his 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over Jeremy Chardy, marking Ferrer’s 15th consecutive appearance in the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam event. Awaiting Ferrer is Florian Mayer who defeated Jerzy Janowicz 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to reach his first Round of 16 at the Australian Open. Ferrer is 4-3 lifetime against Mayer with a shot at the Aussie Open quarterfinals on the line.

“I won in three sets, so it's good,” said Ferrer after his Friday victory. “I know today maybe was the last day with this hot and these conditions, and it's good for your body, because is very difficult for play with these conditions.”


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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