Djokovic defies injury, Murray bows out
Novak Djokovic’s hamstring just about held up as the hot favourite battled into the Australian Open last 16 on Saturday, but Andy Murray’s heroic run is over.
Hard-hitting Aryna Sabalenka meanwhile burnished her title credentials as she barrelled through, along with several other women’s seeds.
An ailing Djokovic had heavy strapping and needed treatment twice on his troublesome left hamstring before defeating Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.
The Serb will face home hope Alex de Minaur for a place in the quarterfinals as he closes on a 10th Melbourne Park crown and a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title.
“Obviously, I didn’t know how I’m going to feel physically, it was going up and down,” said Djokovic.
“It was an incredible battle, three sets over three hours. Let’s rest up and prepare for the next one.”
Djokovic’s fellow 35-yearold Murray will not join him in the next round, however, as the
Briton’s 4:05 am finish eventually caught up with him.
Former number one Murray was clearly feeling the effects of his epic five-setter in round two, which started on Thursday but ended in the early hours of Friday.
The 24th-seeded Spaniard
Roberto Bautista Agut won 6-1, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-4 and faces unseeded Tommy Paul of the United States.
“I gave everything that I had the last three matches — I’m very proud of that,” said Murray.
“But I’m also disappointed because I put loads of work into the beginning of this year and was playing well enough to have a really good run, have a deep run.”
Also in the men’s draw, fifth seed Andrey Rublev surged into a clash with Holger Rune — then thanked his beaten opponent Dan Evans for giving him a banana mid-match.
OMINOUS SABALENKA
Sabalenka is building a head of steam in her pursuit of a first Grand Slam title.
The Belarusian fifth seed blew away 26th-seeded Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-3 to set up a clash with Olympic champion Belinda Bencic.
Thirtieth seed Karolina Pliskova and 23rd seed Zhang Shuai also went through in straight sets on day six at Melbourne Park, and will clash in the fourth round.
Sabalenka is trying not to get carried away.
The Minsk-born 24-year-old teased the Margaret Court Arena crowd for supporting Belgium’s Mertens over her, but said she was enjoying the ride into the second week.