AO - Djokovic d Medvedev but made to work

Day 8 of Australian Open 2019, and the round of sixteen. Final match in the night session on Rod Laver Arena was:

Novak Djokovic (1) (SRB) v Daniil Medvedev (15) (RUS)

Djokovic served first.

Two forehand winners and a service hold. 1-0.  A love game from Medvedev, forcing three Djokovic errors. 1-1.  Three Djokovic forehand winners and a hold for 2-1.  Medvedev drew level after an ace sealed his service game. 2-2.

Djokovic saved break point with a backhand winner, and claimed the game with an ace.  3-2.  Medvedev was down two break points, and Djokovic forced a backhand error to break the Russian serve and extend his advantage to 4-2.  

The top seed was taken to deuce where Medvedev committed two unforced errors and Djokovic led 5-2.  Medvedev held serve to love, then  broke Djokovic when he served for the set. 4-5.

From 40-15, Medvedev lost three points in succession, creating a set point for Djokovic.  A backhand winner confirmed the set for Djokovic 6-4.

The opening of set two was a love game for Djokovic, featuring two winners.  Seven deuces and five saved break points later, Medvedev levelled at 1-1.  Djokovic double faulted for 15-30, but managed to hold, a forehand winner the final point. 2-1.

A Djokovic backhand created a break point on the Medvedev serve, and an unforced Russian error confirmed a dropped serve.  3-1 to the world #1.  Two aces in a Serbian service game, where Djokovic held for 4-1.

Medvedev saved a break point with an ace, and another ace sealed the game for 2-4. Djokovic was behind 30-40, and Medvedev hit a backhand winner to break back for 3-4.

This became 4-4 in a flash 

A tie break resulted in the end.

Medvedev raced to 3-0, and Djokovic could not catch him before four set points arrived for the Russian.  Djokovic had just donated an unforced error and had one serve to come.  He won that point, and the two points on the Medvedev serve after that, with two winners and a Russian double fault, to bring it back on serve.

However, serving at 5-6, he threw in a poor forehand and the set was taken by Medvedev 7-6(5).

Riding the momentum, Medvedev opened set three by holding serve for the surrender of a single point.  The next two games went to serve and Djokovic then served at 1-2.

Medvedev hit a backhand winner, followed by two Djokovic unforced errors, and three break points arose.  Djokovic forced a couple of errors and produced a winning forehand to bring it back to deuce.  He held serve on the second game point for 2-2, and didn’t lose another game for the set.  

At 5-2, and serving for it, Djokovic had two set points and only needed one, delivering a forehand winner. 6-2.

After Medvedev held serve in the opening game of set four, Djokovic had to stave off break point in the next game.  The Serb then sealed the game with an ace. 1-1.

Medvedev dropped serve, forced into error at critical stages by Djokovic. 1-2.  A consolidation of the break came, with forced Medvedev backhand errors important. 3-1.

Medvedev held serve, although much of the credit should have gone to Djokovic for the three unforced errors he donated at no expense.   2-3. 

Up 40-15, things looked bright for the top seed until Medvedev forced two errors and hit a forehand winner and Djokovic was suddenly looking a break point in the mirror.  It was simply saved with a forehand winner and Djokovic proceeded to hold serve and lead 4-2.

5-3 after two safe service holds.

Serving at 3-5 to stay in the match, Medvedev began with a double fault.  An unforced error from the Russian racquet and a Djokovic winner brought up three match points.

Two were saved, the second by a Medvedev winning backhand.

A Djokovic forehand winner on the third break point stopped the contest.

Novak Djokovic won 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2 6-3 in a highly physical match with many long exchanges between the two players.

Next for Djokovic a quarter final battle with Kei Nishikori.