Djokovic survives 5-setter with Simon
MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic was looking everywhere for answers, even in the crowd.
The top player in tennis, who won 27 of a possible 28 matches in Grand Slam matches in 2015, had the number 100 in the unforced errors column after his 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Gilles Simon at the Australian Open.
The win secured his spot in the quarterfinals for the 27th consecutive major, equaling Jimmy Connors at No. 2 in that streak and trailing only Roger Federer’s record of 36.
Yet Djokovic thought it was a forgettable day. He was dissecting the match in an on-court interview Sunday when a burst of laughter from the crowd caught his attention.
“Sorry, everybody is laughing. I just want to hear, what did you say?” Djokovic said, looking into the stands. The answer came back loud and clear: “No more drop shots.”
“OK, thanks buddy,” Djokovic deadpanned. “I hate to say, but you are absolutely right.”
Error-filled outing
A handful of ill-advised and poorly executed backhand drop shots by Djokovic made up the most glaring of his unforced errors.
“I don’t think I’ve had any number close to 100,” he said. “In terms of the level that I’ve played, it’s the match to forget for me.”
He hit 62 winners, and won 100 of the 176 rallies of four shots or fewer, but only 48 of the 101 featuring nine shots or more.
“Sometimes you have a brain freeze, if I can call it that,” Djokovic said, explaining how he wasn’t in rhythm and was trying to finish off points quickly. “Again, I won it, so it’s pretty good. When you’re playing that bad and still manage to win — hopefully it’s going to get better next one.”
Simon entered the match with a 1-9 record against Djokovic, but thought he’d worked out a way to beat the Serbian star by consistently and desperately keeping the rallies alive.
“I know a lot of players wanted me to win this match,” the 31-year-old Frenchman said. “A lot of players will feel better with Novak out of the draw.”
Federer watched Djokovic’s match, before going out to beat No. 15 David Goffin 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in a match that finished after midnight.
Djokovic improved his record to 36 wins in his last 37 matches at Melbourne Park, and will next play No. 7 Kei Nishikori, who beat No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Federer, a four-time champion in Australia, secured a quarterfinal against No. 6 Tomas Berdych, a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 winner over Roberto Bautista Agut.
Gael Monfils had a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Andrei Kuznetsov to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 11 trips to Melbourne Park, thrilling the Margaret Court Arena crowd with his acrobatic tumbles and dives.
He will play the winner of fourth-seeded Stan Wawrinka, the French Open and 2014 Australian Open champion, and No. 13 Milos Raonic, who met late Monday.
Azarenka advances
On the women’s side, two-time champion Victoria Azarenka is into the quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years after a 6-2, 6-4 win over Barbaro Strycova on Monday, the third year in a row the pair have met at Melbourne Park.
Azarenka improved her career record against her Czech opponent to 5-0, including a third-round win here last year and a secondround victory in 2014, both in straight sets. Azarenka won her Australian titles in 2012 and 2013.
The 14th-seeded Azarenka will take on No. 7 Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals. Kerber beat fellow German Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0 in the preceding match on Rod Laver Arena.