Novak Djokovic is through to the Australian Open third round, but things do not look good for a nine-time champion! Novak has been dealing with a hamstring injury since Adelaide, and it got worse in the second round against Enzo Couacaud.
The Serb admitted the injury is bothering him a lot, not knowing what to expect ahead of the third-round clash against Grigor Dimitrov. Novak beat a qualifier 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-0 in three hours and four minutes. He struggled in the second set but raised his level to reach the last 32 for the 15th time in Melbourne.
Djokovic took a medical timeout on his already heavily taped left leg after the second set ninth game. He lost it in the tie break before shifting into a higher gear and dropping two games in sets two and three. Novak dominated with his first serve and faced one break point in the entire match.
He stole 46% of the return points and turned them into seven breaks from 21 opportunities. The Serb could have sealed the deal earlier, earning three break chances in the second set but squandering them to keep the rival in contention.
Enzo injured his right ankle in the opener’s fourth game while trying to reach a ball at the net. He received a medical timeout and struggled in the rest of the set. Novak broke again in game six to move 5-1 in front and wrapped up the set with a service winner in the next one.
Novak Djokovic struggles with a hamstring injury.
The Frenchman felt better in the second set and produced a couple of comfortable holds to stay in touch at 3-3. Novak missed a break chance in game seven after Enzo’s ace and started to feel his left leg in the upcoming games.
The Serb required treatment and wasted two more break chances in game 11 to keep the rival alive. Couacaud survived all the obstacles and climbed back from 3-0 down in the tie break. Novak hit a double fault at 5-5 and sent a backhand long on the rival’s set point in the next one to hand a set to his opponent and raise doubts.
Djokovic made a fresh start in the third set and produced one good hold after another to keep the pressure on the other side. He broke Couacaud in game two and converted the second set point at 5-2 to move closer to the finish line.
Novak broke in the fourth set’s second game to build the advantage and fended off the only break chance in the next one to forge a 3-0 lead. Enzo sprayed a backhand error in the fourth game to lose serve again and push world no.
5 closer to the finish line. Novak placed a drop shot winner in the sixth game for two match points and cracked a backhand down the line winner on the first to emerge at the top and move into the next round. “To be honest, it’s not good at all.
I felt better in my previous match than tonight; that’s all I can say now. It’s up to God and physio to help me. I have to take it day by day. I hope to recover and prepare for a tough match against Grigor in the next round,” Novak Djokovic said.
