Good morning and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the Australian Open men's singles third round match between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz. Djokovic is the clear favourite to retain this Australian Open crown having won it last year. Can anyone stop the world number one? Fritz has the potential to put up some sort of challenge.

N. Djokovic vs T. Fritz | Australian Open

Men's Singles | Round 3 | 12.02.2021 | Rod Laver Arena

Completed

N. Djokovic (1)

7⁷

T. Fritz (27)

6¹

Live

Live Updates

ByMarcus Foley

Updated 12/02/2021 at 13:22 GMT

All
Highlights

13:22

13:20

DJOKOVIC 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 FRITZ

A hobbling Djokovic gets through to the fourth round! It looked bad for the world number one at the end of the fourth set, but he rallied and found something deep inside himself to get over the line. Fritz allowed his level to drop and Djokovic made the most of that.

13:15

DJOKOVIC 5-2 FRITZ* (7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6)

Djokovic is now just one game away from getting out of trouble and moving into the fourth round of the Australian Open. He's playing much more freely now. It's amazing the difference a break of serve can make!

13:12

*DJOKOVIC 4-2 FRITZ (7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6)

Incredible! Djokovic gets the break when only a few moments ago it felt like he couldn't even make a shot on his forehand side! He finds the line with a winner from the back of the court!

13:08

DJOKOVIC 3-2 FRITZ* (7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6)

The service games are racing by at the moment as Djokovic once again holds comfortably. Both players are currently struggling to make much of an impression on the other's serve.

13:06

*DJOKOVIC 2-2 FRITZ (7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6)

Another good hold of serve from Fritz. There was a ripper of a winner from Djokovic at 40-15 which caught the top of the net cord, but that was just consolation. Fritz still looks in control.

13:03

DJOKOVIC 2-1 FRITZ* (7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6)

And now a love hold for Djokovic. It's impossible to know where he is in his fitness at the moment. On his serve, he seems to be playing fine. It's a different story when he's returning, though.

13:01

*DJOKOVIC 1-1 FRITZ (7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6)

A love hold from Fritz and that looked sore for Djokovic once again. The first point of the game saw him let out a yelp as he attempted to reach a forehand groundstroke from the American.

12:59

DJOKOVIC 1-0 FRITZ* (7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6)

Djokovic is on the board at the start of the fifth and deciding set, but that was another shaky game by the top seed. Could it be that Djokovic might retire before the end of the match? He's in pain.

12:51

DJOKOVIC 4-6 FRITZ (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

We are going the distance! Fritz holds comfortably and Djokovic looks to be in real trouble. This match has got away from him very quickly after the injury. Is there any way for him to get this one over the line in the deciding set?

12:49

DJOKOVIC 4-5 FRITZ* (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

Djokovic has at least asked the question of Fritz who will now have the chance to serve out the fourth set. The trainer is back out for Djokovic. Clearly still struggling with this abdominal injury.

12:47

*DJOKOVIC 3-5 FRITZ (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

Fritz moves within one game of taking this match to five sets. While Djokovic doesn't appear to be wincing anymore when he strikes the ball, something still isn't right with the world number one.

12:43

DJOKOVIC 3-4 FRITZ* (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

That's a bit better from Djokovic who is serving and volleying a bit more than he was before the injury. Is that the thing that is going to get the world number one through this match?

12:41

*DJOKOVIC 2-4 FRITZ (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

Play was suspended for around 10 minutes as they emptied the stadium due to the state ordered curfew. Now the players are back playing in front of the empty stands. Fritz holds his serve.

12:31

DJOKOVIC 2-3 FRITZ* (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

It's only by virtue of Djokovic's shot-making brilliance that he is currently able to stick with Fritz, but the Serbian can barely make a shot on his forehand side. What can he do to get to the finish line?

12:28

*DJOKOVIC 1-3 FRITZ (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

This looks like serious trouble for Djokovic. Fritz has no bother consolidating the break and he has a two-game cushion in this fourth set. Can the world number one stick with the American?

12:25

DJOKOVIC 1-2 FRITZ* (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

And now Djokovic has been broken in this fourth set, putting a forehand into the middle of the net! The comeback is very much on for Fritz! Can he consolidate the break to give himself a cushion in this set? Djokovic so uncomfortable.

12:19

*DJOKOVIC 1-1 FRITZ (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

Another couple aces from Fritz! He now has 17 for the match and his serving only appears to be getting better and better as Djokovic struggles to move around the court with this injury problem.

12:16

DJOKOVIC 1-0 FRITZ* (7-6, 6-4, 3-6)

A very important hold of serve for Djokovic at the start of the fourth set. Fritz had a break point at 30-40, but the world number one found some big serving to get himself out of trouble. Djokovic also coming to the net more often.

12:09

DJOKOVIC 3-6 FRITZ (7-6, 6-4)

Plot twist! Fritz has taken the third set and things aren't looking so good for Djokovic right now! The American holds to love as the world number one struggles badly to stay in the rallies. What is he going to do about this injury?

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