Melbourne, Australia, Jan 17 (EFE).- The Serbian Novak Djokovic, German Alexander Zverev and the Spaniards Alejandro Davidovich and Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday by winning their respective matches in Melbourne.
Djokovic, seeded seventh, beat the Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac in straight sets 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. He will face another Czech Jiri Lehecka in the round of 16 of the Australian Open.
“I believe I played exceptionally well. I’m very happy with my performance and a bit surprised by the outcome. It was my best match of the tournament so far,” Djokovic remarked before the audience at Rod Laver Arena, which had a strong Serbian presence.
Meanwhile, his next opponent, the 24th seed, Lechecka, overcame ’s Benjamin Bonzi 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.
Djokovic, who received medical care during the first set, reached the round of 16 in a Grand Slam for the 17th time, one behind Swiss legend Roger Federer.
Second seeded Zverev rolled over the British Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, equaling Boris Becker as the only Germans to reach the round of 16 for the 21st time in Grand Slams.
Zverev, who is yet to win a Grand Slam, is to face the winner of the match between Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils, seeded 14 and 20, respectively.
Third seeded Alcaraz beat Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2, in what was the Spaniard’s first match at the Rod Laver Arena in the current edition of the Australian Open after having played his previous matches at the Margaret Court Arena.
He next faces either 15th seeded Jack Draper or local boy Aleksandar Vukic.
Meanwhile, fellow Spaniard Davidovich came back from two sets down for the second consecutive match, overcoming a formidable challenge from the Czech Jakub Mensik 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-2, and is set to face 12th-seed Tommy Paul. EFE
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