Australian Open: Novak Djokovic wins ugly to advance to quarters
The top player in tennis, who won 27 of a possible 28 matches in Grand Slam tournaments in 2015, had the number 100 in the unforced-errors column after his 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Gilles Simon at the Australian Open.
The win secured his spot in the quarterfinals for the 27th consecutive major, equaling Jimmy Connors at No. 2 and trailing only Roger Federer’s record of 36.
A handful of ill-advised and poorly executed backhand drop shots by Djokovic made up the most glaring of his unforced errors.
Federer beat No. 15 David Goffin 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in a match that finished after midnight.
Federer, a four-time champion in Australia, secured a quarterfinal against No. 6 Tomas Berdych, a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 winner over Roberto Bautista Agut.
Six-time champion Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova confirmed their quarterfinal date with straight-set wins, ensuring a rematch between last year’s finalists.
No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanksa rallied from 5-2 down in the third set to win 6-7 (6), 6-1, 7-5 against Anna-Lena Friedsam, who finished the last two games hobbling and in tears, and also conceded a point penalty on her last serve, after taking a medical timeout for what appeared to be cramps.
Williams won 26 matches in a row at the majors last season, taking the Australian, French and Wimbledon titles and reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Open before a stunning loss to Roberta Vinci ended her run for the season slam.
Said Sharapova: “I got myself into the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam,” the 2008 Australian Open champion said.