Australian Open: Novak Djokovic defeats Daniil Medvedev to set Kei clash

. Just like against Denis Shapovalov in the previous match, Novak lost a set but he played well after that to bring the match home and avoid spending more time on the court before the next clash against Kei Nishikori who went to hell and back versus Pablo Carreno Busta before prevailing after five hours and five minutes.

Daniil had 18 aces although he failed to do more damage with his initial shot, having to play against 18 break points and suffering seven breaks to trail almost all the time. Novak made the difference with the second serve as well, saving seven out of nine break points to limit the damage in his games and mount the pressure on the other side of the net.

Both players had more unforced errors than winners but Novak did enough to move into the next round in four sets, hoping for a better performance against the Japanese in two days time. Following four good holds at the start of the match, Novak saved a break point with a volley winner to avoid the setback, stealing Daniils serve in the next game with a deep return that the Russian failed to control.

Serving for the set at 5-3, Djokovic netted a backhand to drop serve and keep his rival in contention before winning four points in a row on the return in game ten to take the set 6-5 after a backhand winner. Daniil fends off five break points in the second game of the second set but he netted a forehand in game four to fall 3-1 down, trailing until 4-2 when he broke back with a backhand down the line winner that kept him in the set.

Five good holds on both sides later, Medvedev took the tie break 7-5, clinching a long rally in the 12th point to level the overall score and force Novak to raise the level. Novak was in trouble in the fourth set but that all changed when he saved three break points in the fourth game, breaking Daniil a few minutes later when the Russian sprayed a backhand error and again in game seven to open up a 5-2 lead.

The Serb completed the set with a forehand winner in the game that followed, restoring his advantage and breaking Medvedev twice in the fourth set for his 10th quarter-final in Melbourne. <table