Disrupted Djokovic managed to win only one point in the tie break, something that is so rare to see from him, and after more than 2 hours result was tied at one set each, with much drama to follow.
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Novak Djokovic overcame a staggering 100 unforced errors to win an epic Australian Open five-setter and secure his 27th consecutive grand slam quarter-final ticket.
Federer was in no mood to hang around in the evening’s final match, watched by Australian great Rod Laver in the arena that bears his name. If Djokovic has suddenly misplaced his game, or his confidence, Nishikori surely will have a chance. “Today was one of the best matches I’ve had this week”. Good could be another Grand Slam singles title which would pull her level with Steffi Graf’s 22.
Djokovic, who is aiming to win his sixth Australian Open, is through to the quarter-finals for the ninth year in a row, though here too he still trails Federer, who reached 11 consecutive quarter-finals between 2004 and 2014 and yesterday reached his 12th in total. Williams and Sharapova are two of the favorites to win the Australian Open title this year. He lost only 5 points on serve and punished Tosnga’s weaker second serves. “I would like to play outdoors, since this is an outdoor tournament, but I’ll do whatever is necessary”. They are joint second in the Open era list behind Roger Federer, who holds the record with 37.
“Obviously 24 is close, but yet it’s so far away”, Williams said of Court’s career record.
“We played in London and he kind of destroyed me”, he said. I’m playing just playing for me. “When I lose, I just get better”.
Sharapova, the 2008 champion and four-time finalist, had to play under an indoor match because play started while it was lightly raining, but the roof was open for Williams.
“Well, gosh, I didn’t know she was here, I feel honored to be able to play in front of her”, Williams said when told Court was in the stands, then looked up to the VIP area and added: “Thank you”. The answer came back loud and clear: “No more drop shots”. “It’s probably one out of 40, very low percentage….”
“I don’t think it can get much worse than this”. A hundred unforced errors for a match is really tremendous for me, my style of the game. “I do accept it and I will try to get back on the right track”.
The world No 1 racked up a most un-Djokovic-like total of 100 unforced errors and brought the fifth set largely upon himself with a string of botched drop-shots.
“I felt very good today, especially against Jo, it’s great to win in straight sets and I’m very happy to play a good match today to go into the quarter-finals”, Nishikori said. “The good thing about Grand Slams is that you have a day off in between, which gives you enough time”, said the 28-year-old, who had not been stretched to five sets since beating South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in the fourth round of Wimbledon last year. The Swiss needed only 88 minutes to defeat Goffin. Williams had an easy victory against Margarita Gasparyan, taking the game 6-2 6-1, but Sharapova had a tougher time against Belinda Bencic, squeezing out a well-fought 7-5 7-5.
It was the third time this tournament that matches have been interrupted due to medical situations in the stands.
Nishikori, of Japan, secured the victory when Tsonga, of France, hit a forehand wide.
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“It’s not that Novak became arrogant, but on Sunday there will be many people [supporting] me in the lock room”.
