Novak Djokovic defeated Frtiz in the 3rd round of the Australian Open despite a tear in his abs that appeared during the match on February 12, 2021. -

Andy Brownbill / AP / SIPA

Novak Djokovic at the end of his suffering.

The Serbian, defending champion, overcame an abdominal tear to snatch the American Taylor Fritz (7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2) on Friday in the third round of the 'Australian Open.

Here he is in the round of 16, but the rest of his tournament could be compromised.

"It's a muscle tear, so I don't know if I'll get over it in less than two days," commented the Serbian who has to face the great Canadian server Milos Raonic (14th) on Sunday for a place in the quarterfinals .

“I don't know if I will be able to enter the court or not.

I am very proud of what I achieved this evening, for the rest we will see tomorrow, ”he commented.

Spectators forced to leave in the middle of a match

The Serbian is going through a black series in Major: he retired with a shoulder injury at the 2019 US Open, he was disqualified at the 2020 US Open and there he is again on the verge of retirement.

We also believed that he would not go to the end of this match against Fritz, as he seemed unable to move and hit normally, especially in the 3rd set.

"I just tried to stay alive and hoped that whatever happened in there it would pass for a bit.

And it was a bit past towards the end of the fourth set, explained the world number 1.

This is one of the strangest victories of my life.

"

A strange victory, also because the match started in front of an audience, but ended behind closed doors.

The spectators were not allowed to stay in the stands until the end.

Victoria Prime Minister Dan Andrews announced earlier in the day a new five-day lockdown, starting this Friday at midnight (2 p.m. French time).

Around 11:30 p.m., the referee of the match took advantage of a change of sides to ask everyone to leave.

An announcement that did not like, obviously, but the spectators had to comply with the instructions.

The rest of the tournament promises to be sad.

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