Djokokovic has been sidelined with a thigh injury for some time and was visibly hampered with jerky movements and he occasionally stretched his backside.
After the first tough tiebreak, the Serb took a medical timeout.
- Until the very last stroke, I didn't know if I was going to win.
It was an incredible fight.
Three sets, over three hours.
Now I get to rest and prepare for the next match, says Djokovic according to ATP.
"It went up and down"
After the win against Enzo Couacaud the day before yesterday, a match where Djokovic limped around in the same way as today, Djokovic said that it felt really bad.
- I didn't know how it would feel in my body today, it went up and down, says Djokovic, who will face the Australian home favorite Alex de Minaur.
In addition to claiming his 10th title in Australia, Djokovic can equal Rafael Nadal's Grand Slam record of 22 titles.