Melbourne, Jan 25: Defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the Australian Open quarter-finals after a late-night win over 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis on Sunday.
Djokovic was pushed to a fourth set before winning 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 in a match that started at 11:10 pm and finished at 2:26 am.
The 21-year-old third seed sets up a last-eight clash with in-form American Andy Roddick, who demolished Tommy Robredo earlier. Three-time champion Roger Federer is also in his half of the draw.
“We waited three-and-a-half or four hours to get on the court so it was really hard to warm up,” Djokovic said. “Actually we warmed up five times and then got cold again.”
Baghdatis described the Australian Open`s late matches as a “pain in the arse” this week after he was kept up to 1:14 am playing America`s Mardy Fish.
The 97th-ranked Cypriot wrapped up a five-setter with Lleyton Hewitt last year at 4:34 am in the tournament`s latest finish.
Apparently keen to get the match over, Djokovic made a quickfire start and was two breaks up before Baghdatis got a game on the board.
The Cypriot came to life in the second with more aggressive shot-making but he wilted in the tie-break, going down 7/1 for a two-set deficit.
However, Baghdatis edged the third-set tie-break to stay in the match before Djokovic took control of the fourth, nailing a huge backhand for the second break and converting the first match point.
“I`m really happy to win such a match,” said Djokovic, as he looked ahead to his quarter-final with Roddick.
“It`s the same quarter-final as the US Open last year. It`s going to be really tough, he`s playing fantastic tennis so let`s see.”
The Serbian third seed broke Rafael Nadal and Federer`s chokehold on the Grand Slams here last year, becoming the only other Major-winner since Gaston Gaudio at the 2004 French Open.
Djokovic`s third-round win here over Amer Delic was followed by ugly clashes between Serbian and Bosnian fans, the Open`s third disturbances in consecutive years.
The player later came under fire from some sections of Australian media for his lukewarm reaction to the violence.
Djokovic and Baghdatis started late after local hope Jelena Dokic`s three set match with Alisa Kleybanova overran.
Bureau Report
