Djokovic endures Popyrin alarm to reach Australian Open third round

Djokovic endures Popyrin alarm to reach Australian Open third round

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The 36-year-old Serbian player, looking forward for a record-extension eleventh title in Melbourne, was in some trouble in the third set when blunders started to stream and he needed to save four set points to emerge victorious.

Reigning champ Novak Djokovic survived a surprise scare before beating home hope Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

(Photo Courtesy: https://www.sportingnews.com)

The 36-year-old Serbian player, looking forward for a record-extension eleventh title in Melbourne, was in some trouble in the third set when blunders started to stream and he needed to save four set points to emerge victorious.

With the full packed arena in Melbourne, favorite Djokovic utilized his immense experience to win the essential tie-break and afterward broke an unsettled Popyrin halfway through the fourth set to hold onto control at long last.

Djokovic floated through the fourth set to pile up his 30th successive victory at the Australian Open — his last defeat coming in 2018 — however for the second successive round he was pushed hard and looked shy of his best structure.

"He missed an easy forehand and I was lucky to get away with that game,” Djokovic, who was riled up by a heckling fan as the match neared its conclusion, said on court. “He was the better player for a set and a half but the momentum shifted after the tiebreak.”

Djokovic, bidding to claim a record 25th Grand Slam title, was kept on court for four hours during his opening round triumph over Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic on Sunday.

Yet, when he took the initial set against Popyrin quickly having lost just three focuses on serve, a more normal triumph appeared to be on the cards.

Djokovic had a 13-1 record against Australian players at Grand Slams yet the 24-year-old Popyrin was not going to go down compliantly as he started up his serve and forehand to begin marking the Serb's covering.

The arena burst into life when Djokovic faced a break point at 1-2 in the second set and Popyrin changed over it with a deft volley.

Popyrin faltered, nonetheless, serving for the set at 5-3 for certain blunders giving Djokovic the break. Be that as it may, in the accompanying game it was Djokovic's chance to wobble and the Serb's undeniably worn out forehand offered several set focuses. One was saved with an ace however Popyrin then, at that point, delivered a shocking heave to square the match.

Popyrin required treatment on his calf halfway through the third set however Djokovic, who came into the competition with worries over his wrist, looked flat as well.

Serving at 4-5, the pressure built as Djokovic missed a forehand, then, at that point, a simple volley and afterward pummeled a forehand into the net to propose three set focuses. Djokovic held firm to save all three and then another as Popyrin possibly managed with a fourth opportunity.

World No. 43 Popyrin was made to lament those botched opportunities as Djokovic ruled the tiebreak and moved on to victory in spite of a few unruly fans giving their all to toss him out of his rhythm.  “It’s frustrating when you have the hecklers.”

Djokovic's form will offer some hope to his third-round rival, Argentina's Tomas Etcheverry.

“I was feeling a lot of mixed emotions on the court, not a great atmosphere to play in for me,”  Djokovic told Eurosport.

Asked about his state of physical condition, a sniffly Djokovic said: “I don’t want to get into the details about how I feel, but not feeling my best. But I’ve been in this situation many times.”