Six-time champion Novak Djokovic has marched into the fourth round of the Australian Open after beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain in straight sets.
Djokovic, who is taking part in his first competitive tournament after spending six months out of the game due to an elbow surgery looked in cruise control right from the beginning until the very end of the contest at Margaret Court Arena on Saturday. The Serbian superstar showed signs of the same form, which has brought him six titles in Melbourne in the past.
Djokovic never took his foot off the gas, easing to a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 victory over the Spaniard in two hours and 21 minutes. Djokovic looked tired in his previous match as he struggled with the sweltering Melbourne heat, but seemed charged up in cooler conditions under the lights. The Monte Carlo resident never lost his serve, while breaking Albert-Vinolas on five occasions to make the match as comfortable as possible for himself.
After steamrolling Albert-Vinolas in the first set, Novak was forced to take a medical time-out to undergo treatment on his lower back. However, the brief break only delayed the inevitable for some time as Djokovic rolled through the second and the third sets to advance to the next round.
“The matches are going to get tougher from now on,” Djokovic said afterwards.
“The good thing about grand slams, you always have a day off (to use) for recovery and training … and obviously get myself in shape for the next one.”
“It was a straight-sets win but almost two and a half hours so it wasn’t that easy or comfortable on the court,” he said.
“Obviously for me, it’s taking it one match at a time. I have some incredible memories in Melbourne Park in the last decade of my career.
“I obviously have to be more humble this time with my expectations because I havent played in six months.
“But I’m very pleased with where my game is at at the moment.”
The 12-time Major winner will square-off against Hyeon Chung for a place in the quarterfinals. Chung upset 4th seed Alexander Zverev earlier in the day to become the first man from his country to reach the round of 16 of the competition.
