Djokovic survives scare to reach Australian Open third round

Despite Novak Djokovic’s admission of being “a bit under the weather” after a prolonged first-round battle, he showcased trademark mental fortitude to secure a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory. While the Serbian maestro initially dominated, his unforced errors surged in the second set, leading to a rare break in the fourth game. Popyrin, seemingly squandering his opportunity to level, rallied impressively with a backhand lob, igniting the crowd. Djokovic, facing sporadic challenges and health concerns, navigated the turbulence to remain on course for a historic 25th Grand Slam title.