Djokovic recovers from shaky start to reach Adelaide quarters

ADELAIDE, AFP: Novak Djokovic overcame a shaky start to beat Frenchman Quentin Halys on Thursday and reach the Adelaide International quarterfinals, stepping up his preparations for the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic

Denis Shapovalov

The top seed from Serbia won 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) and will face Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the last eight.

Djokovic returned to the scene of his 2007 title run on Tuesday with comfortable straight sets win over France Constant Lestienne.

He backed that up against Lestienne’s doubles partner Halys but was slow to get going, slumping 2-5 in the first set before clinching victory.

With the crowd firmly behind the former world number one on a packed centre court, Djokovic – who won Wimbledon among five titles last year – lost his opening service game against the 64th-ranked Frenchman.

He earned two break points in game three but was unable to convert, biding his time until the seventh game, when he broke to love and then raced through the tiebreak.

Nothing separated them in the second set, which again went to a tiebreak, after Halys saved two match points at 5-4, with Djokovic finally prevailing when Halys netted a backhand.

Djokovic’s reward is a clash with world number 18 Shapovalov, who sailed into the last eight with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin.

Djokovic has won all seven previous encounters with the Canadian.