(Melbourne) Novak Djokovic again overcame pain in his left thigh to beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (28^e world) 7-6 (7/9), 6-3, 6-4 and reach the round of 16 of the Australian Open on Saturday in Melbourne.

“Every point, every game was important and maybe the key for me was to get the break in the game right away because I knew that physically I would have ups and downs,” he said. affirmed.

“I thought the double break in the third set would be enough, but in the end, until the last blow I was not sure of winning,” added the 35-year-old Serb.

Looking for a 22^e Grand Slam title to equal the record of Spaniard Rafael Nadal, he will face Australian Alex De Minaur (24^e) to try to reach the quarter-finals.

Against Dimitrov, Djokovic immediately took the game into his own hands and, physically comfortable, led until 5-3 when, suddenly, on his 2^e set ball, he showed the first signs of pain in his thigh, still wrapped in a huge bandage, as since the start of the tournament.

On his third set point, he bluntly let the ball pass and it became apparent that he was unable to make any big moves and strides to his forehand side.

In the process, Dimitrov picked up at 5-5.

Djokovic managed to take the set to the tiebreaker where he saved three set points before winning the first set himself on a drop volley that he accompanied with a roll.

At the change of sides, he requested a medical time-out and was treated on the court.

The tactic for Dimitrov was then simple: move Djokovic as far as possible on his backhand before attacking him along the line on his forehand.

But against the Serbian champion, who will again become world No.1 if he wins his tenth Australian Open, a tactic is never easy to apply.

And it was he who took the upper hand in the second round.

Dimitrov hung on to save three break points at 2-1, but gave up his next serve. Djokovic broke away 5-2 and held his serve to pocket the set.

The Serb then scored a double break to lead 3-0 in the third set. Dimitrov made another late break (3-1) but immediately lost his next service game to white and allowed Djokovic to lead 4-1.

Again, “Djoko” seemed to be in pain: he was massaged on the court at the change of sides, without taking a medical time-out, before losing his face-off again (4-2).

But he served for the match at 5-4 and didn’t miss his chance. At the end of an exchange of 31 blows punctuated by groans of an injured animal, the native of Belgrade offered himself two match points and concluded on his first by taking advantage of an unforced error from Dimitrov, one of his ” best friends”, which he has now beaten ten times for a single loss.