After being scared by Alexei Popyrin, Novak Djokovic battles through to the third round

Defending champion Novak Djokovic, aged 36, faced a significant challenge but managed to overcome Australian hopeful Alexei Popyrin, aged 24, in a thrilling match at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Djokovic, aiming for an unprecedented 11th title in Melbourne, secured a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory to advance to the tournament’s third round.

During the encounter, the Serbian player encountered a precarious situation in the third set, grappling with errors and having to save four set points. The intensity of the match had the night-time crowd on the edge of their seats. Djokovic, as the top seed, drew upon his extensive experience to navigate through a pivotal tiebreak in the third set. Subsequently, he managed to break Popyrin’s resistance in the fourth set, taking control of the match.

Despite a challenging third set, Djokovic breezed through the fourth set, securing his 30th consecutive victory at the Australian Open. Notably, his last defeat at this Grand Slam event occurred in 2018. While Djokovic has reached the third round, his performance in the tournament has been scrutinized as he faced tough opposition in both rounds, appearing somewhat below his usual top form.

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“He missed an easy forehand, and I was lucky to get away with that game,” Djokovic expressed on court, visibly influenced by the heckling from a fan as the match approached its conclusion.

“Popyrin was the better player for a set and a half, but the momentum shifted after the tiebreak,” Djokovic added.

Djokovic, aiming to secure a record 25th Grand Slam title, faced a four-hour battle in his opening-round victory over Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic on Sunday. However, after claiming the opening set against Popyrin in just 39 minutes, having lost only three points on serve, it seemed like a more straightforward victory might be in store.

Despite Djokovic’s impressive 13-1 record against Australian players at Grand Slams, 24-year-old Popyrin refused to succumb easily. Energized by a strong serve and forehand, he started to make inroads against the Serbian’s defenses.

The crowd came alive when Djokovic faced a break point at 1-2 in the second set, and Popyrin capitalized on the opportunity with a deft volley, adding an extra layer of excitement to the match.

Popyrin faced a moment of uncertainty while serving for the set at 5-3, committing errors that allowed Djokovic to break back. However, in the subsequent game, Djokovic experienced his own lapse, with his increasingly erratic forehand providing Popyrin with a couple of set points. Although one set point was saved with an ace, Popyrin executed a stunning lob to level the match.

In the third set, Popyrin required treatment on his calf, and Djokovic, who entered the tournament with concerns over his wrist, appeared fatigued. Tension escalated when Djokovic, serving at 4-5, made errors, offering three set points to Popyrin. Djokovic, however, held firm, saving all three set points and an additional one, as Popyrin secured a fourth chance.

Despite Popyrin’s missed opportunities, Djokovic dominated the tiebreak and secured the victory, even with some rowdy fans attempting to disrupt his rhythm. Djokovic’s form might give hope to his third-round opponent, Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry.

Expressing his feelings on the court, Djokovic told Eurosport, “I was feeling a lot of mixed emotions on the court, not a great atmosphere to play in for me. It’s frustrating when you have hecklers.” Regarding his physical condition, Djokovic, dealing with a cold, mentioned, “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.”