With a win over Botic van de Zandschulp within the third spherical of the Australian Open, Novak wrote a brand new web page in tennis historical past by recording his four-hundredth profession win at Grand Slam tournaments.
Identical to in his first two matches in Melbourne, Novak performed at a really excessive stage. He beat the Dutchman in straight units 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in two hours and 44 minutes.
Though the match began at 19:00 native time, the situations had been removed from nice. The temperature was 38°C. Novak discovered his rhythm quicker in these robust situations. Within the third sport, he calmly saved a break level, and within the subsequent sport he took benefit of his opponent’s lapse in focus to interrupt serve for 3-1. From there, Novak stayed in management, went up 4-1, and comfortably closed the set 6-3.
Within the second set, Novak rapidly constructed a powerful lead. He broke serve twice and went up 3-0. After receiving medical remedy for ache in his proper shoulder, the Dutch participant managed to get one break again and scale back the rating to 3-2, however that didn’t change the movement of the set. Regardless that Van de Zandschulp raised his stage, Novak safely held his benefit and didn’t permit any break probabilities, profitable the set 6-4.
The third set was Novak’s first actual take a look at of the match. After a medical timeout for the Serbian participant, Van de Zandschulp earned his second break and took a 3-1 lead. Novak responded instantly, broke again, and leveled the rating at 3-3. His rival stayed aggressive and at 6-5 had two break/set factors, however didn’t convert them. The set was determined in a tie-break, the place Novak stayed calm and received 7-4.
Match statistics: Aces (11-15), double faults (6-4), winners (27-33), unforced errors (23-48), complete factors received (112-88).
Novak will face 20-year-old Jakub MenÅ¡Ãk (CZE, 16) within the spherical of 16 on the Australian Open on Monday. MenÅ¡Ãk defeated American Ethan Quinn 6-2, 7-6, 7-6.
This will probably be their third assembly, with every participant having received one match towards the opposite to this point.
Photograph: Profimedia
