Novak Djokovic triumphs over Machac, sets up clash with Lehecka

Novak Djokovic fired a warning shot to the rest of the Australian Open field on Friday night, dismissing the challenge of Tomas Machac with ease to make the fourth round in Melbourne.

Coming into the contest, Djokovic had been patchy across his opening two matches at the year’s first Grand Slam, dropping a set in each.

Yet against Machac, he fired on all cylinders, drawing inspiration from some niggle with the crowd to defeat the Czech 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in his best performance of the tournament.

Tennis bookmakers had Djokovic as a solid favourite heading into the third round, paying $1.25 for the Serbian to prevail.

Still, there was doubt over how seamless the match would be for the 10-time champion, given Machac had defeated him in 2024 – along with six other top-20 players.

But from the first set, it was clear that Djokovic’s level had improved from earlier rounds, with the 37-year-old giving Machac no room from the back of the court and winning the majority of longer exchanges.

He also continued to serve well, landing 65% of first serves and winning 80% of points behind his opening strike.

The error count sat well and truly in his favour as well, with 20 unforced errors for Djokovic over the two-hour, 22-minute match, compared to Machac’s 35.

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“Best match of the tournament for me,” he said.

“I didn’t have too many drops in the concentration and the level of tennis.”

Djokovic’s biggest challenge on Friday night came from outside of the court, with a pair of persistent hecklers giving him grief, which he addressed after the match.

“On the court it’s frustrating, and it comes in a bad moment,” he said.

“If it’s repetitive, it happens for an hour, somebody tells you in the corner things that you don’t want to hear and constant provoking, then of course it comes to the point where you just respond.

“I tried to tolerate, but then at one point I had to respond, and that’s all.

“That’s all to say about it.”

Up next, Djokovic faces another Czech in the form of Jiri Lehecka.

The pair have met just once, with Djokovic prevailing 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-1 this time last year.

Top bookmakers put him at odds of $1.25 to do so again, with Lehecka returning $4 to win at BetOnline.

Despite Djokovic’s dominant victory on Friday, Marantelli Bet have lengthened his title odds – likely as a reaction to his physical issues in the second set.

The Serbian now pays $7 to win the title, up from $4 pre-tournament and $6.50 before the third round.

Jannik Sinner ($2), Carlos Alcaraz ($3.40) and Alexander Zverev ($6.50) are ahead of him in outright tennis betting odds now.

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