Highlights: Frustrated Djokovic overcomes Van de Zandschulp to reach fourth round
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Novak Djokovic confessed Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are playing “at a different level” to anyone on the men’s tour, but threatened he is still “hanging in there” as he looks to break the supremacy of the top two.
Djokovic, hunting the all-time record of 25 Grand Slam titles, reached the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) victory over Botic van de Zandschulp on Saturday.
Djokovic, at times, cut a frustrated figure on Rod Laver Arena as Van de Zandschulp – the Dutchman who retired Rafael Nadal at the Davis Cup in November 2024 – became the first player to break the Serbian’s serve in Melbourne thus far.
But Djokovic’s victory never looked in doubt, as he largely quelled his opponent’s aggressive yet resilient approach, coming through unscathed from his sternest test so far down under.
Questions have surrounded how Djokovic would fare physically as the tournament progressed through the rounds – and speaking on court after his victory, he said his body is feeling “really good”, as he looks to mount pressure on the dominant Alcaraz and Sinner – who shared each of the four major titles last year.
“It’s been a great start to the tournament,” Djokovic said. “Obviously things can change.
Djokovic gets crowd going – ‘One of the most physical points we’ve seen’
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“I’m not getting ahead of myself, last year I learned the lesson, got too excited too early, in some of the Grand Slams, playing really well and getting to the semis, and then getting injured in three out of the four.
“I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money. I’m still around, I’m hanging in there.
“Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world, they’re playing on a different level to all of us right now.
“But when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance. Particularly here, the court which has given me the most in my career.”
Van de Zandschulp returned aggressively off Djokovic’s serve, and put the Serbian under pressure by forcing him to defend an early break point – but he did so astutely, before carving out an advantage of his own.
Djokovic ‘was in trouble’ and overcame ‘ugly’ fall and blisters in victory
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At the second opportunity to break, Djokovic outlasted his opponent in a gruelling 26-shot rally, forced to defend out wide on his forehand side with Van de Zandschulp applying pressure at the net.
When the Dutchman scooped his cross-court forehand wide, the 10-time Australian Open champion held his fist aloft, encouraging the Rod Laver Arena crowd to make themselves heard – to which they responded.
Djokovic, looking to dispatch the opener in swift fashion, let out a yell of frustration when he missed his opportunity to do so with an errant backhand attempt down the line – but he sealed the set at the third opportunity on serve for 6-3.
He raced into a double-break lead in the second, but after Van de Zandschulp underwent treatment on his shoulder, he mounted a challenge. Djokovic dropped his serve for the first time in the tournament just moments later, but would not allow his opponent a route back in.
Djokovic explained in his on-court interview how he felt the “tables turned” against him at this point of the match.
“It was a pretty good treatment I must say,” he said. “Gave him a lot of firepower, he was serving extremely well from that moment onwards.
“The tables turned. I relaxed too much, and was in trouble to close out the second set. From that point onwards, it was anyone’s game.
Watch ‘very near miss to ball girl’ as Djokovic lets out frustration – ‘Oh my goodness!’
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“Really lucky to get out of the trouble at set point in the third. Things happen so quickly in this sport, one shot can determine the winner. Glad to come through it in straights.”
While in control of the second set, the 38-year-old seemed hugely frustrated when errors crept in. There were more aggrieved shouts from his corner, and he apologised after hitting a rogue ball in the direction of a ball-kid, having already won the point by his opponent hitting long.
Djokovic’s hopes of closing out the evening in straight sets were hit when he was broken for the second time for 3-1 following a brief medical timeout for some treatment on his foot after taking a fall.
Watch scary moment Djokovic takes a tumble – ‘He’s still in one piece’
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However, going behind only seemed to inspire the Serbian to get back on level footing, which he did immediately, with Van de Zandschulp netting a forehand on Djokovic’s second break point.
The third set went the distance as, after the exchange of breaks, both found some consistency on serve, with Djokovic thumping home three successive love holds.
And despite Djokovic being pushed to set point on serve, he recovered to force the tie-break – gaining three match points as Van de Zandschulp snatched at his chances to make a hat-trick of unforced errors.
While he passed up the first with a double-fault, Djokovic celebrated his 400th Grand Slam singles victory when the Dutchman fired long, setting up a fourth-round clash with either Jakub Mensik or Ethan Quinn.
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