Nole set up an Australian Open quarter-final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz, surging past tricky seeded opponent from the Czech Republic.
24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic delivered another masterclass in Melbourne on Sunday to beat Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in two hours and 39 minutes.
It was a good test for Novak, who brushed past the 24th seed breaking him three times from 11 opportunities inside Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic played with great intensity, his movement was exceptional and he was in control throughout the second career encounter with the Czech. He won 81 per cent of points behind his first serve and was 16/18 when approaching the net (89%).
The record 10-time titlist at Melbourne Park broke once in each set and lost his serve once.
Match statistics: aces (9-11), double faults (3-4), winners (27-39), unforced errors (21-44), total points won (108-90).
“I felt great,” said Djokovic. “A couple of hiccups here and there, a loose game after I broke his serve in the third. After that I had chances to break him, but every time I had an opportunity to break him, he would serve big. Just very powerful and precise. A different opponent compared to my last round rival, but there were quite a few similarities, with a flat backhand and quite an aggressive style. I handled the pressure moments well and played some great points towards the end of the match.”
A blockbuster quarter-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz (ESP, 3) will take place on Tuesday.
Alcaraz led Jack Draper 7-5, 6-1 when the Brit retired from their fourth round clash.
Novak leads Alcaraz 4-3 in the pair’s ATP H2H series. The Serbian star triumphed in their last meeting in the Olympic Games final in Paris last summer, when he claimed an emotional first gold medal.
Photo: Profimedia
