The Australian Open had only three rounds and only one major champion remained in the men’s singles draw.. A nine-time winner, Novak Djokovic, advanced to the last 16 along with Roberto Bautista Agut and 14 players born in 1995 or later.
Thus, only one Major champion remained in the fourth round for the seventh time in the Open era, with Djokovic in three of them after the US Open in 2020 and 2021.. When it comes to the Australian Open, John Newcombe was the only Major champion in the fourth round in 1973 and 1974, and we had to wait almost 50 years to see him again!
Novak arrived in Melbourne with a hamstring injury earned a few weeks earlier in Adelaide. The Serb defeated Roberto Carballes Baena in the first round and struggled in the second set against Enzo Couacaud.
Novak Djokovic was the only Major champion left in Melbourne from R4.
The Frenchman claimed it in the tiebreaker, with the Serb requiring a medical timeout on his troubled leg. Djokovic outlasted his opponent in sets three and four to emerge on top and preserve energy for the upcoming duels.
Novak needed it all in the third round against Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian had a chance to clinch the first set, with the Serb struggling with a major injury. However, Novak brought the set home and stayed focused in the second and third to prevail and outlast a formidable opponent.
Not knowing what to expect, Djokovic stepped onto the pitch against Alex de Minaur and wished for the best. As it turned out, he did not feel any problems with his leg and destroyed the opponent in three comfortable sets. Djokovic had the advantage on serve and return and left De Minaur far behind, eager for the most dominant victory possible.
With drive and momentum, Novak produced another terrific performance against Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals. A nine-time champion delivered a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory in two hours and three minutes for a place in the last four.
Novak made a convincing start and never looked back. He claimed the first two sets in no time and controlled the score in the third to emerge on top. Djokovic is yet to lose a match after reaching the last four in Melbourne, and the remaining three opponents will have to produce some of the best tennis of their careers to beat him.
