It was a point to take your breath away. Novak Djokovic grabbed it with a backhand down the line. But that failed to illustrate the Serbian’s artistry after a series of audacious strokes to break down his compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic.
If Jannik Sinner had earlier surged into the fourth round, the latest step in a dominant run to the semi-finals, then Djokovic in this form may well await. Djokovic grappled with his game a little more here, even though he was admittedly met with more force in Kecmanovic than Sinner’s opponent Pedro Martinez.