Melbourne, Australia — On a dramatic Friday night, Novak Djokovic faced an unexpected challenge when he sought help from a trainer due to some breathing difficulties. Despite a heated exchange with a particularly vocal fan, when it was game time in his Australian Open matchup against Tomas Machac, the 24-time Grand Slam champion showcased his usual brilliance.
With a record of 10 titles at Melbourne Park, Djokovic advanced to the fourth round with an impressive performance, taking down the 26th-seeded Machac in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. Notably, Machac had bested Djokovic in their most recent encounter last season.
In a post-match interview, when asked about his game, Djokovic responded with humor, saying, “I’m feeling rather hot-headed right now, so I’ll attempt to offer a composed and diplomatic response. Overall, I played exceptionally well and am thrilled with my performance. Honestly, I was a bit surprised by the outcome.”
The match concluded in under 2.5 hours, with Djokovic only being broken once and converting 5 out of 15 opportunities on Machac’s serve. A testament to his dominance, Djokovic struck 28 winners while limiting himself to just 20 unforced errors.
This victory marked Djokovic’s first straight-set win of the tournament, having previously battled through four-set matches against debutantes Ninesh Basavareddy and Jaime Faria.
Next up for Djokovic is a clash with No. 24 seed Jiri Lehecka on Sunday, where the winner may face No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
During the opening game of the second set in the iconic Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic appeared to experience discomfort, adjusting his grip near his rib cage. At the following changeover, he decided to take a breather on the bench rather than merely walk to the opposite end of the court.
In the subsequent game, after missing a drop shot, Djokovic found himself leaning forward, visibly animated, as Machac seized the first break opportunity for a 2-0 lead in the set due to a challenging volley from Djokovic.
However, Djokovic swiftly countered, igniting cheers of “Nole!” from the stands and inspiring his coach, Andy Murray, to rise in applause from his courtside seat.
Following a brief chat with the chair umpire, Djokovic called for a trainer and, during a changeover, covered his head with a towel while receiving medical support.
“I was just trying to catch my breath. It was tough. I’m not 19 anymore — I’m almost twice that,” joked Djokovic, who will celebrate his 38th birthday in May.
Though he recognized experiencing physical challenges mid-match, Djokovic mentioned feeling rejuvenated and agile by the final set.
A brief disturbance from the audience during play added to the drama, but Djokovic remained focused. As the match drew to a close, he passionately celebrated a key point, flexing and shouting in triumph. After clinching the victory, he playfully gestured towards the crowd, perhaps indicating, “What do you think of that?”
When interrupted during his interview by a fan’s shout, Djokovic quipped, “Sorry, mate. I have a wife. But we can certainly share a drink after,” adding, “Maybe you’ve already had a few!”
“I’d be more than happy to share a drink with him now that the match is over,” Djokovic concluded, smiling. “I think we can both reflect on our lively banter with a bit of humor.”