Djokovic rages at himself for letting his temper slip under Melbourne’s lights
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 letdown 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.
“I just stayed solid from the back of the court and served well, played the right shots. For the first two 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. Matches and opponents are going to get tougher. I feel like I’ve been playing well, so things are progressing well.”
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.
“But the explanation that I got from the supervisor was that TV requested that. Whatever TV says, we have to respect, I guess.”
Djokovic will next play another young gun in Russia’s Daniil Mwedvedev, 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 in Melbourne, 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.
Meanwhile, ladies’ world No. 1 Simona Halep insisted she’ll have nothing to lose when she takes on Serena Williams in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
After battling through two 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 impressively 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 has lost only nine games in three matches and 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 said: “In my opinion, to be number one in the world and to be the best player in the world, it’s a little bit different. In this moment, I’m number one 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.
“She’s been a lot at number one. I cannot compare my results to her.
“Definitely it’s the toughest draw I’ve ever had. Every time I face the sisters is a big challenge for me. I just want to try to play my best tennis because I have nothing to lose against them.
“It’s going to be just a huge match for me. I will not put pressure on myself. There’s a good chance for me to play my best tennis and to feel good on court.” Serena and Halep have not met since before the former’s break from the sport to give birth to her daughter, and she, too, is looking forward to testing herself.
“It will be great,” said Serena. “I haven’t played the world No. 1 since I’ve been back. So it will be good.”