Novak Djokovic revelation turns Australian Open on its head

The man everyone expects to win the Australian Open is a crippled mess and we look increasingly likely to crown a new king.

Fly better in the five-setter. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

An ailing Novak Djokovic overcame an abdominal “muscle tear” and jeers from a rowdy crowd Friday to outlast Taylor Fritz in the Australian Open, a five-set triumph he rated as one of his “most special”.

The world number one, however, admitted he faced a race against time to be fit for his fourth-round match against Milos Raonic.

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“I know it’s a tear of the muscle, so I don’t know if I will be able to recover from that in two days,” he said.

Djokovic’s exit, or limited physical ability, could open the door for Rafael Nadal to win a record 21st grand slam or see Dominic Thiem win his second.

Sportsbet responded to the injury by installing Thiem and Russia’s Daniil Medvedev as joint tournament favourites at $4. Djokovic lengthened to $5 while Nadal is at $6.

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The world number one appeared to be cruising until he needed a medical time-out early in the third set.

Djokovic constantly grimaced afterwards but dug deep in the fifth set and wore down the big-serving 27th seed 7-6 (7/1) 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-2 in three hours and 25 minutes.

“Towards the end of the fourth, it started feeling better,” he said. “I just tried to stay in there and I was hopeful.

“This is definitely one of the most special wins in my life.”

Novak Djokovic gets medical treatment while playing against Taylor Fritz. (Photo by Brandon MALONE / AFP)

Djokovic was often left frustrated on Rod Laver Arena.

After facing a stern second-round, four-set, examination by American Frances Tiafoe, the Serb again had his hands full against brash Fritz, the highest-seeded American in the draw.

Fritz had talked up his chances of an upset, and true to his word he came out swinging in a high-octane opening set marked by relentless slugging from the baseline.

Fritz impressively dug out of a 5-2 hole to force a tie-breaker, but Djokovic lifted the intensity under pressure to peel off six straight points en route to taking the first set.

Djokovic’s mood quickly soured and he remonstrated with boisterous fans in the fourth game of the second set after pulling out of his service motion due to crowd noise.

He received loud jeers as the crowd shifted their support to Fritz, but Djokovic responded by holding serve and celebrating wildly much to the derision of spectators, who won’t be in attendance until Thursday due to Melbourne’s lockdown.

A galvanised Djokovic was rejuvenated and appeared set to sail through to a comfortable victory before injury struck.

Fritz, 23, took advantage and forced a fourth set, where he broke in the third game.

Djokovic was hanging on but received respite when play was suspended for 10 minutes as spectators, many of whom jeered when exiting, were forced to leave at 11:30pm — half-an-hour before Melbourne’s lockdown started.

Just when you thought sport had left all its crazy in 2020. (Photo by Brandon MALONE / AFP)

The stoppage didn’t stop Fritz’s momentum as he drew level, but Djokovic somehow found a way back and celebrated his gutsy victory with loud roars that echoed around the empty stadium.

The Serb is targeting a record-extending ninth title and his 18th Grand Slam trophy overall as he snaps at the heels of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who top the all-time list with 20 each.

Djokovic set-up a fourth-round clash with big-serving Raonic after the 14th seed beat Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in four sets.

Djokovic will be looking to continue his stranglehold over the Canadian, having won all 11 prior matches and dropping just three sets overall.

He knocked out Raonic in straight sets in the quarter-finals of last year’s Australian Open. However, whether he plays the match remains to be seen.

– AFP