Djokovic survives Simon scare to reach quarter-finals

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (R) and France’s Gilles Simon laugh as they shake hands at the net after Djokovic won their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 24, 2016. REUTERS

Reuters: Champion Novak Djokovic put down the threat of a French revolution at Melbourne Park by fending off Gilles Simon 6-3 6-7(1) 6-4 4-6 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday.

Having hurtled into the match without dropping a set, Djokovic found a brick wall in the form of the 14th seed Simon whose dogged scrambling frustrated the Serb for much of the four-hour 32-minute clash at Rod Laver Arena.

The world number one racked up a most un-Djokovic-like total of 100 unforced errors and brought the fifth set largely upon himself with a string of botched drop-shots.

But the Serb’s iron-willed composure returned quickly in the decider as he broke Simon early and motored to a 5-1 lead.

Simon rallied with a final flourish, regaining a service break and saved two match points before holding to raise thunderous cheers from a raucous crowd firmly in his corner.

But after raising a third match point with an ace, Djokovic sealed the match with an imperious backhand down the line and after shaking hands with his opponent, was glad to slump into his chair.

Djokovic, who booked his 27th successive quarter-final at the grand slams, will now meet seventh seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori, the man who beat him in the 2014 US Open semi-finals.