Fri Jan 17 15:47:40 UTC 2025: ## Djokovic Battles Illness and Line Calls to Reach Australian Open Fourth Round
**Melbourne, Australia** – Novak Djokovic overcame a stomach bug and questionable line calls to defeat Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in the Australian Open third round on Friday. The 37-year-old Serb, despite feeling unwell enough to require a medical timeout, showcased his resilience and physical dominance to advance to the second week of the tournament.
Djokovic, seeking his 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam overall, admitted to struggling early in the second set but managed to turn the match around after receiving medical attention. He praised Machac’s strong performance, acknowledging the Czech player’s potent game and past victories against him. Despite this, Djokovic targeted Machac’s serve effectively, winning nearly two-thirds of return points in the opening set. The match featured numerous long, intense rallies, captivating the Rod Laver Arena crowd.
Beyond his physical ailment, Djokovic also expressed frustration with the automated line-calling system, feeling several calls were incorrect. He even suggested ways to increase fan engagement in tennis, drawing parallels to basketball’s use of halftime entertainment such as dancers. He also addressed some disruptive spectators, while simultaneously acknowledging the importance of attracting younger audiences.
Djokovic will next face Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round. In other news from the men’s draw, Ugo Humbert progressed to the fourth round after his opponent, Arthur Fils, retired due to injury. Humbert will now face Alexander Zverev.
First Piper 