Battling injury, and seeing the Rod Laver Arena crowd totally vacating the stadium midway through the fourth set, Novak Djokovic defeated American Taylor Fritz in five sets to make his 13th Australian Open fourth round.
However, Djokovic said he knew the injury was a muscle tear, and doubted if he would be ready to play Milos Raonic on Sunday, throwing his bid for yet another Australian Open title into doubt.
Djokovic receives treatment during his third round match against Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open on Friday night.Credit:AP
He even needed someone to carry his bags after leaving court.
The world No.1 took a medical time out early in the third set, received work on the right side of his abdomen – his hitting side – by a trainer a few games later and then called on the trainer again near the end of the set.
