Sports

Djokovic defies all odds in Australian Open

January 22, 2023 7:50 am

Novak Djokovic defied his hamstring injury to beat Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets and reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The nine-time champion required a medical timeout after he edged the opening set in a 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-4 win over the Bulgarian 27th seed.

Djokovic is hoping to win a men’s record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park and it seems his to lose after a large number of seeds fell in the early rounds.

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Defending champion Rafael Nadal, who holds the record, had been deemed one of Djokovic’s biggest rivals for the title but he was knocked out in the second round after a hip injury hampered his performance.

Andy Murray is out of the Australian Open after eventually losing to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in a valiant display where he struggled to move.

Former world number one Murray finished his second-round match at 4am on Friday and, returning to court 39 hours later, was beaten 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 6-4.

The 35-year-old Scot, who had career-threatening hip surgery in 2019, was the last Briton to fall in the singles.