Australian Open 2023: I kept my focus and played the best match of the year – Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic came into the Australian Open with a bit of doubt as he has been struggling with his leg injury. Djokovic is now into the quarterfinals of the Happy Slam after beating local lad Alex de Minaur convincingly by 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 at the Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

This will be the 13th quarterfinal for the Serbian at a tournament, which he has dominated and won on nine occasions. Djokovic revealed he felt nothing in his leg and played the best match of the year so far.

The former World No.1 was at his absolute best as he outclassed the youngster with his brilliance. Alex had no chance in the game as Djokovic dominated from the get-go.

“I really wanted to win in straight sets,” Djokovic said. “You obviously don’t know what is going to happen on the court. I thought the first four, five games was close. After breaking serve in the first set, I started feeling more free and more loose to hit through the ball and be more aggressive.

“I thought he was a bit more nervous towards the end of the second [set] and the beginning of the third set. I thought that was my opportunity to capitalise on those chances. Tennis is a very quick and dynamic sport. Things can change in a matter of moments, matter of points. But I kept my focus all the way through and played the best match of the year so far.”

On the other hand, Alex de Minaur admitted he was outplayed by Novak Djokovic in the fourth round.

The Australian wrote on his Twitter account, “I hate how media will always create controversy and takes things out of context to make a headline. Got outplayed and outclassed yesterday. How about we focus on tennis for once? I will get back to work and improve you can count on that. Thank you, Australia.”

Djokovic will take on Andrey Rublev on Wednesday.