Djokovic Slides Into The Second Week

Six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is finding his form, breaking serve five times to advance to the second week at Melbourne Park for the 11th time with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. 21 seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Saturday.

“I knew coming into the match that Albert is a great fighter. He grinds, he gets a lot of balls back,” Djokovic said on court after the match. “Obviously for me it’s taking one match at a time. I have some incredible memories in Melbourne Park in the last decade of my career and obviously that comes back every time I land in Melbourne and I play on these courts.”

Djokovic is continuing his pursuit of a record seventh Australian Open title. The former World No. 1 extended his FedEx ATP Head2Head series lead against the Spaniard to 5-0 — Djokovic has won all 13 of their sets.

The No. 14 seed next plays Next Gen ATP Finals champion Hyeon Chung, who upset fourth seed Alexander Zverev in five sets earlier in the day.

“Matches are going to get tougher from now on… Chung made a great win today against Zverev, who was in form,” Djokovic said. “The good thing about Grand Slams, you always have a day off between the matches so I’ll try to use that for recovery training and getting myself in shape for the next one.”

Djokovic defeated Chung in their only past FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting at the 2016 Australian Open, eliminating the South Korean in straight sets. But he is remaining focused, knowing that he hasn’t competed since 2017 Wimbledon due to injury.

“I obviously have to be more humble with my expectations this time,” Djokovic said. “I haven’t played for six months but I’m very pleased with where my game is at at the moment.”