Melbourne, Jan 20: Novak Djokovic beat Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4) to set up a blockbuster quarter-final with Carlos Alcaraz but boycotted his post-match on court interview after a TV reporter mocked Serbian fans.Djokovic, who is looking to break Margaret Court’s all-time singles record for men and women of 24 Grand Slams, thanked the crowd for coming out to support him but did not conduct the usual formal interview with Jim Courier.
The Serbian revealed his protest was in reaction to Australian Channel 9 anchor Tony Jones mocking Djokovic’s fans recently on-air.
Alcaraz and Djokovic have met seven times, with the Serbian leading the head-to-head 4-3. Djokovic also won their last match, in the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s singles final.
With the win, Djokovic made it to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the 15th time, equalling Roger Federer’s all-time record for the number of last-eight appearances in Melbourne.
Earlier in the day, Carlos Alcaraz did not have to spend a lot of time in his fourth-round match as his opponent Jack Draper, 15th seed, retired with injury when he was trailing 5-7, 1-6.
Djokovic has shown signs that he is back to his vintage best. Against Lehecka, Djokovic served wonderfully well in the first two sets. A break in the eighth game of the first set was enough for Djokovic to power through it. He broke Lehecka’s serve early in the second set and steamrolled his opponent.
However, in the third set, Djokovic appeared frustrated as he mishit some of his forehands. He began by breaking Lehecka’s serve, but he was broken back in the very next game.
Djokovic was quick to bounce back and there was no looking back after he took a 4-2 lead in the tie-breaker.