Djokovic slams dogged Dodig to advance at Melbourne

Novak Djokovic was dragged into a dour mid-match scrap by Ivan Dodig, but pounded the dogged Croat in the last two sets to win 7-5 6-7 6-0 6-2 and reach the third round of the Australian Open today.

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Novak Djokovic was dragged into a dour mid-match scrap by Ivan Dodig, but pounded the dogged Croat in the last two sets to win 7-5 6-7 6-0 6-2 and reach the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

After conceding the first set, Dodig battled like a streetfighter in the second, winning back a break and pushing Djokovic into a tense tiebreak where he unleashed a withering roar after clinching it on the third set point.

The jubilation was to prove short-lived, however, as Djokovic broke serve in the next game, then mowed through the next seven.

Dodig battled hard to prise a breakpoint at 4-1 but 2008 champion Djokovic slammed the door shut with a searing forehand winner down the line and later sealed the second of two match points with a thumping serve.