Djokovic survives; Serena, Osaka advance at Australian Open

Thiem survives the fired-up Kyrgios test in five-set thriller: Halep, Osaka reach the fourth round.

MELBOURNE: Top seed Novak Djokovic survived a major injury scare as he battled past American Taylor Fritz 7-6(1), 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday.

Defending champion Djokovic, seeking a ninth title in Melbourne, looked in command when he took the opening two sets but began to suffer from a side injury early in the third set.

He needed to leave Rod Laver Arena to have the treatment and was grimacing in pain at times as the 23-year-old Fritz took advantage to take the next two sets.

The crowd was removed midway through the fourth set as Melbourne's new COVID-19 lockdown came into effect.

But Djokovic, despite still looking in discomfort, did enough to win the deciding set and live to fight another day.

Serena Williams completed a 7-6(5), 6-2 win against Anastasia Potapova in the sunshine at Rod Laver Arena then gushed about her daughter Olympia learning tennis in the on-court interview, drawing cheers from fans.

Second seed Simon Halep eased past Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-1, 6-3 to reach the fourth round for the fourth straight year.

The twice Grand Slam champion feasted on the Russian's serve, breaking her opponent three times in the first set and another three times in the second.

The 29-year-old was broken twice herself but pounded 21 winners past her error-prone opponent and served out reasonably comfortably for the win after an hour and 18 minutes on court.

Naomi Osaka swept into the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over OnsJabeur in front of one of the last crowds allowed before Melbourne Park goes into lockdown.

The Japanese third seed pounded down eight aces as she dominated her first career contest against the Tunisian world number 30 to set up a meeting with Spain's twice Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza.

Osaka, who won her second Grand Slam title in Melbourne in 2019, was forced to pause in the second set when a butterfly fluttered into her face and she moved it to the side of the court with her racket.

She saved six of seven break points she faced and hit winners off both wings, serving out to love to reach the last 16 at Melbourne Park for the third time after 78 minutes.

Dominic Thiem produced a comeback for the ages to overhaul a fired-up Nick Kyrgios in a five-set classic.

In the bearpit atmosphere of Kyrgios's favorite John Cain Arena, US Open champion Thiem survives fired-up Kyrgios test in five-set thriller: Halep, Osaka reach the fourth round dragged himself off the canvas in a thrilling 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over the Australian showman to reach the fourth round.

The Austrian third seed was shellshocked for the first two sets, barely able to lay a glove on Kyrgios, who channeled the crowd's energy to produce some electrifying tennis.

But Thiem transformed from timid to terrific as his serve revived, and he lived to set up a battle with Grigor Dimitrov for a quarter-final spot after sealing the match with a majestic backhand down the line. Agencies

Also Read: Injured Neymar ruled out for 4 weeks from Champions League

Also Watch: Himanta Biswa Sarma's Push fore Better Roads in Barpeta