Australia Open: Novak Djokovic beats Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets in fourth round

Serbian Tennis player Novak Djokovic has beaten Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the fourth round of the ongoing Australia Open 2024. The former won the game in straight sets by 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-2) in Melbourne. The Serbian, in his first two wins, suffered second-set wobbles. However, in the game against 30th seed Etcheverry, he had no such things.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner won his first break of serve in the sixth game of the match. He took his opponent to deuce and then earned the second of two break opportunities with a terrific drop shot before Etcheverry missed a groundstroke to hand him the game.

Djokovic comfortably served out the set, before then quickly breaking Etcheverry again in the second. With the Argentine, meanwhile, unable to get any sort of opening on the Serb’s serve, he was broken again to see the second set slip away.

Etcheverry made a better fist of things in the third, keeping pace for the first 10 games and then going up 15-30 on Djokovic’s serve. But, again, the defending champion denied him, reeling off the next three points as the set ultimately went to a tie-break.

Djokovic then claimed a 25-shot rally with a devastating forehand winner to open the breaker as he raced ahead 3-0, ultimately setting up four match points up 6-2 and clinching things with an ace.

“It was the best performance I’ve had during this tournament,” Djokovic said.

He will play France’s Adrian Mannarino or American 16th seed Ben Shelton next.

“Obviously I’m pleased with the way I played throughout the entire match, particularly the first two sets,” Djokovic said.

“He stepped it up and raised his level of tennis in the third set. We went toe-to-toe in the tiebreaker.”