HE DID not look comfortable and even, for a straight sets win, strangely vulnerable but eventually Novak Djokovic prevailed and won through to the semi-final and a rematch of last year's Australian Open final with Andy Murray.
The question to emerge from Djokovic's scrapping win over David Ferrer last night, which he won 6-4, 7-6, 6-1, was whether the illness or injury that plainly appeared to trouble him through the match would continue to plague him in the tournament.
His answer afterwards was that he had twinged his leg and the pain went away, but for the entire match he had a blocked nose and struggled for breath. He doubted it would affect him again.
Novak Djokovic was in obvious discomfort at several points in the match, and also appeared to have trouble breathing. Photo: Reuters
"Luckily for me it was not something that stayed there for a long time [the leg twinge]. It was just sudden pain, but look you could expect before coming to this match that it is going to be very physical. David makes you run," Djokovic said.
"I don't have any physical issues I feel very fit and mentally very fresh.
"Today I just found a long time difficult to breathe. Today my nose was closed a bit and I was unable to get more oxygen in . . . I am not concerned about that at all, I am really fit and I have no concerns about recovering for the next match. It is only a matter of breathing better I suppose."
Djokovic appeared to battling to stay on court. Photo: AP
He might be breathing easier but the other three men left in the tournament will not be hearing that.
The first hint that Djokovic was not 100 per cent came early in the second set when at a set and a break of serve up he reached for a ball and winced and favoured his leg slightly. The next game Ferrer was able to drag out a rare break point which he converted when he stretched Djokovic wide to the backhand side and as the Serb stretched and skied his flip return wide he grabbed quickly to the back of his left leg suggesting he had hurt a hamstring. He did not call for a trainer to massage the leg or take a painkiller.
As well as world No. 5 Ferrer played last night he is still a significant step below the four players ranked above him. And Djokovic must now beat at least two of the other three that with him make up that top four in order for him to defend his title.
Djokovic's girlfriend Jelena Ristic watches on with concern from the player's box. Photo: Reuters
Surprisingly, Djokovic was able to hang into the set. He looked to be battling himself to stay on court, breathing deeply through his nose and struggling for breath — but he was still in the set. The match ground to a tie-breaker.
History was not with Ferrer. In 12 previous tie-breakers at Australian Opens he had lost every one. Last night he made it 13 straight. The second set ran 76 minutes and it might sound inflammatory but it is not overstating it to think that had Djokovic not won it he might not have won the match.
The mental shift in both players was obvious for Djokovic rattled through the third set to win it 6-1 in just half an hour.
Spaniard David Ferrer looked to exploit Djokovic's physical struggle. Photo: AFP
"After I won the second set it was a big mental advantage,"Djokovic said.
The omen, however, is good for Djokovic — the last time he played Ferrer at a grand slam event was in the quarter-finals in 2008. Djokovic won that quarter-final and soon after his first grand slam title. The portents are good.
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