Djokovic regrets outburst as he gives Shapovalov lesson

NOVAK Djokovic was unhappy with himself for losing his temper as he dropped his first set of the Australian Open against Denis Shapovalov.

The world No 1 lost five straight games from 4-1 up in the third set but responded emphatically to win 6- 3, 6- 4, 4- 6, 6- 0, thereby guaranteeing he will stay top of the rankings after the tournament.

Djokovic was unhappy that the floodlights were put on during the third set and that appeared to affect his focus. At set point down, he was given a code violation for swearing from umpire Damien Dumusois, responding with a sarcastic thumbs up.

“I misconducted myself verbally,” was Djokovic’s euphemistic description for his moment of anger.

Of his overall performance, Djokovic said: “Other than the little let- down that I had when I was 4- 1, 4- 2 up in the third set, I thought I played well, especially in the fourth set.

“I expected Denis to come out and be aggressive. He made a lot of unforced errors, I thought, for the first set- and- a- half. For the first t wo sets, I just had things under control.

“At 4- 1, I was agitated. It should not happen to me. I know better. I have experience. But it does happen, I guess. I allowed him to come back into the match.

“It was important to start off the fourth set well. But I like the fact that I was tested, as well, because you want to be tested.”

Regarding the issue with the lights, Djokovic said: “I just felt with such a low position of the sun, the lights being switched on at 5pm was completely unnecessary. It was very bright.”

It was a first meeting between Djokovic and 19- year- old Canadian Shapovalov.

“He’s got a pretty complete game,” an impressed Djokovic said. “He’s got the big serve, a lot of rotation on the ball. He can hit it flat. He can hit it with a spin. I like his mentality. I like his confidence in himself. Obviously he’s lacking some experience playing on the big stage in the big matches, but that’s going to come. These kind of experiences can only help him.”

Shapovalov said with a smile: “He’s good. I think he’s No 1 good. But I had my chances, definitely. It was a little bit difficult for me in terms of it’s not every day I’m playing a match against a top guy like this on a stage like that. Definitely I was a little bit nervous.”

Djokovic will next play another young gun in Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who is through to the last 16 at a slam for the first time after beating David Goffin in straight sets.

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev also breached new ground, seeing off Australian wild card Alex Bolt 6- 3, 6- 3, 6- 2. He will next face Milos Raonic while Kei Nishikori, Borna Coric and Pablo Carreno Busta also won.

In the women’s event, world No 1 Simona Halep insisted she will have nothing to lose when she takes on Serena Williams in the fourth round.

After battling through t wo tough opening rounds against Kaia Kanepi and Sofia Kenin, Halep knew she would have to step things up against Venus Williams and she did so in a 6- 2, 6- 3, victory.

In what must surely be the toughest draw a top seed has ever faced, Halep now finds herself taking on Serena, who demolished 18-year-old Dayana Yastremska 6- 2, 6- 1.

Halep may have the No 1 next to her name but she has won only one of her nine previous meetings with Serena and feels she goes in as the underdog.

The Romanian, pictured, said: “In my opinion, to be No 1 in the world and to be the best player in the world, it’s a little bit different. In this moment, I’m No 1 in the world, so I will take that. But, for sure, she’s the best player in the world because she won so many grand slams.

“Definitely it’s the toughest draw I’ve ever had. I just want to try to play my best tennis because I have nothing to lose against them.

Naomi Osaka and Elina Svitolina both survived scares to reach the last 16. Osaka was a set and 4-1 down to Hsieh Su-wei before winning 11 of the last 12 games in a 5- 7, 6- 4, 6- 1, victory.

Svitolina trailed Zhang Shuai 3- 0 in the third set before coming back to lead 5- 3, failing to serve out the match and then eventually winning 4- 6, 6-4, 7-5 to set up a match with Madison Keys after her victory over last year’s semi- finalist Elise Mertens. Osaka next faces 13th seed Anastasija Sevastova.

Garbine Muguruza backed up her late- night win over Johanna Konta by seeing off Timea Bacsinszky 7- 6 ( 5), 6- 2.