Tennis: Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro Into Fourth Round
January 23rd 2009 08:01
Defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia has won his third round match at the Australian Open. The No 3 seed played well below his championship form of a year ago, but was still too good for American Amer Delic, winning 6-2 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
In a match played in good spirits despite both players asking for several calls to be verified by replays, Djokovic survived a serving barrage from his Bosnian-born opponent.
"I have a big respect for Amer, we know each other for a long time," Djokovic said.
Djokovic now plays either Mardy Fish of the US or Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.
Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro has forced his way into the fourth round with a four-set victory over Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.
Del Potro played indifferently in patches before finding his form to win 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-3 7-5.
The No 8 seed and, at 20, the youngest player in the world's top 10, had trouble with Muller's solid defensive play, losing the first set out of frustration as much as poor play.
Neither player registered a service break until del Potro struck in the 12th game of the second set.
That small victory levelled the match and although Muller broke back early in the third, the Argentine No.1 returned the favour in the next game.
The performance of the 87th-ranked Muller suggested more ability than his position on world lists suggests.
It will have also given heart to Australia's teenage sensation Bernard Tomic who took a set off Muller in their second round match.
Del Potro now plays Croatian 19th seed Marin Cilic in the fourth round.
No 21 seed, Spain's Tommy Robredo ended the Australian Open hopes of Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun, crushing him 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in the third round.
Lu posted the biggest win of his career in round two when he knocked out No.10 seed David Nalbandian.
Earlier Croatia's No 19 seed Marin Cilic sent No.11 seed Spaniard David Ferrer crashing out of the third round with a 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 6-4 win.
AAP
In a match played in good spirits despite both players asking for several calls to be verified by replays, Djokovic survived a serving barrage from his Bosnian-born opponent.
"I have a big respect for Amer, we know each other for a long time," Djokovic said.
Djokovic now plays either Mardy Fish of the US or Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.
Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro has forced his way into the fourth round with a four-set victory over Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.
Juan Martin del Potro
Del Potro played indifferently in patches before finding his form to win 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-3 7-5.
The No 8 seed and, at 20, the youngest player in the world's top 10, had trouble with Muller's solid defensive play, losing the first set out of frustration as much as poor play.
Neither player registered a service break until del Potro struck in the 12th game of the second set.
That small victory levelled the match and although Muller broke back early in the third, the Argentine No.1 returned the favour in the next game.
The performance of the 87th-ranked Muller suggested more ability than his position on world lists suggests.
It will have also given heart to Australia's teenage sensation Bernard Tomic who took a set off Muller in their second round match.
Del Potro now plays Croatian 19th seed Marin Cilic in the fourth round.
No 21 seed, Spain's Tommy Robredo ended the Australian Open hopes of Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun, crushing him 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in the third round.
Lu posted the biggest win of his career in round two when he knocked out No.10 seed David Nalbandian.
Earlier Croatia's No 19 seed Marin Cilic sent No.11 seed Spaniard David Ferrer crashing out of the third round with a 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 6-4 win.
AAP
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