Novak Djokovic beat Jiri Lehecka in straight sets to set up a blockbuster quarter-final with Carlos Alcaraz but refused to answer questions post-match on court.
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 appeared annoyed in the third set due to noise from the crowd, pointing to his ear in celebration after big points as he won 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
“Thank you very much for your support and I’ll see you in the next round,” said Djokovic, before he signed some autographs and walked off the court.
Djokovic later spoke to Eurosport though about his match: “I felt great. A couple of hiccups and a loose game when I broke his serve in the third. After that I had chances to break him but every time I had an opportunity he served big.
“I handled the pressure moments and played some great points towards the end.”
Novak Djokovic made his feelings clear to the crowd during the third set against Jiri Lehecka
How Djokovic beat Lehecka
It was a cagey start to the match as the opening six games were shared before Djokovic ramped up the speed of his hitting and moved 5-3 up, before serving out the set.
Djokovic broke immediately at the start of the second and held that advantage throughout as Lehecka made several unforced errors.
Things changed in the third though when Lehecka punched back, having been broken again early in the third, to break back himself and found his rhythm.
Djokovic was unable to convert his break point chances, so the set ended up at 5-5, with the Serbian rattled by spectators who began to call out in between serves.
Novak Djokovic was not at his vintage best but did enough to reach his 15th Australian Open quarter-final
A tie-break was required to separate the players in the third and Djokovic produced some of his best tennis, interacting with the crowd by gesturing to his ear after big points as he went on to seal a place in the quarter-finals against Alcaraz, who earlier saw off Jack Draper after the British No 1 retired due to injury after two sets.
Alcaraz and Djokovic have met seven times, with the Serbian leading the head-to-head 4-3. Djokovic also won their last match at the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s singles final.
Carlos Alcaraz will be hoping to replicate his win over Djokovic from last year’s Wimbledon final
The pair will face each other in Tuesday’s night session on Rod Laver to battle for a semi-finals spot.
Alexander Zverev overcame a second-set blip to beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-1 2-6 6-3 6-2 to reach his fourth Australian Open quarter-final.
Zverev will face Tommy Paul in the last eight after the American defeated thrashed Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1 6-1 6-1.
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.