Novak Djokovic arrange a mouth-watering Australian Open quarter-final in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz with a convincing victory over Jiri Lehecka.
Djokovic continued his bid for a document twenty fifth Grand Slam title with a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4) win in opposition to the Czech twenty fourth seed.
He’ll face Alcaraz within the final eight after the Spaniard progressed when British primary Jack Draper retired with a hip harm earlier on Sunday.
Alcaraz has crushed Djokovic previously two Wimbledon finals, however the Serb obtained the higher of the 21-year-old to win gold on the Paris Olympics final summer season – Djokovic’s self-proclaimed “greatest sporting achievement”.
Djokovic was booed by the gang as Lehecka threatened to drive a fourth set, and the 11-time Australian Open champion was fast to go away Rod Laver Area after his victory.
“Thanks very a lot for being right here tonight. I recognize your help and I’ll see you within the subsequent spherical,” the 37-year-old mentioned.
Talking in a information convention afterwards, Djokovic clarified his causes for swerving the same old on-court interview with four-time main winner Jim Courier.
He referred to the actions of Channel 9 newsreader Tony Jones, who shouted “Novak, he is overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak kick him out” in direction of Djokovic followers whereas stay on digicam on Friday.
“A pair days in the past the well-known sports activities journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel 9 right here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian followers and in addition made insulting and offensive feedback in direction of me,” Djokovic mentioned.
“So since they’re official broadcasters, I selected to not give interviews for Channel 9. I’ve nothing in opposition to Jim Courier or the Australian public.
“It was a really awkward scenario for me.”
On Monday, Jones mentioned he thought the feedback had been “banter” and “humour”, however gave an on-air apology – one he mentioned he had already provided to Djokovic’s workforce 48 hours earlier.
“I stand by that apology to Novak, if he felt any disrespect, which fairly clearly he does.”
Channel 9 issued a public apology as effectively, saying “no hurt was meant in direction of Novak or his followers”.