Novak Djokovic picked up a hard-fought victory over Quentin Halys to advance to the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International on Thursday.
The Serb came back from 5-2 in the first set and 5-3 in the second to beat the Frenchman 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5).
Djokovic will face Canadian Denis Shapovalov on Friday as he continues his preparation for the Australian Open.
Australian Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the second week of the Adelaide tournament with an ankle injury.
The 27-year-old also withdrew from last week’s United Cup and will therefore have had limited match time ahead of the Australian Open, which kicks off on January 16.
The world number 22 could enter the first major tournament of the season without having played a singles match since an ATP event in Tokyo in October.
Meanwhile, Djokovic, who beat Kyrgios in the 2022 Wimbledon final, will be looking to claim his 10th Australian Open title in a bid to equal Rafael Nadal’s men’s Grand Slam record of 22.
The old world number is expected to miss Indian Wells and the Miami Open this season after the United States extended its obligation to vaccinate international visitors against Covid-19.
Djokovic, who was sent off ahead of the 2022 Australian Open due to his Covid-19 vaccination status, said ‘it is what it is’ when asked about the prospect of missing out more of tournaments.
“If it’s official then it is. What can I do? Nothing,” said the 35-year-old.
“I hope [to play]but if I can’t go, I can’t go.”
Shapovalov, seeded seventh, Djokovic’s quarter-final opponent, cruised through Thursday’s draw in the Adelaide International second round with a 6-4 6-3 win over Russia’s Roman Safiullin.
