Djokovic defeats Popyrin to enter third round

Novak Djokovic held off home favourite Alexei Popyrin in a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 win on Wednesday night inside Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open 2024.

Djokovic, a 10-time Open champion picked up his 30th consecutive win at Melbourne Park and moved into the third round for a record 16th time.

“He had quite an easy forehand and he missed it,” said Djokovic, when asked about his escape at the end of the third set. “I didn’t do anything special, and I was lucky on that point, on that game, to get away. He was the better player I think for a set and a half. In the second set and third set he was the better player.

The 36-year-old Serbian will hope to cut down his unforced errors for his third-round clash against Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Friday who had earlier defeated Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Australian Open title dream took a huge forward after fending of a resilient home crowd on Wednesday inside Margaret Court Arena to defeat home boy Jordan Thompson 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-2, 7-6(4).

The 2023 finalist after the victory advance to the third round for the sixth consecutive year and will now face Luca Van Assche next in Melbourne after the Frenchman upset 25th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-0.

After beating Botic van de Zandschulp in three tight sets to open his Australian Open campaign, Jannik Sinner lifted his level against another Dutch opponent on Wednesday in Melbourne.

The fourth seed defeated qualifier Jesper De Jong 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in Margaret Court Arena to reach the AO third round for the third time and will now meet Argentine Sebastian Baez.

Australian and home favourite Alex de Minaur continued his impressive start to the season, defeating Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 to reach the third round in Melbourne for the fifth time.

The World No. 10, who is 5-1 on the season, was too consistent for his 22-year-old opponent under the roof on Rod Laver Arena will battle with either Pavel Kotov or Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli for a place in the fourth round.