Djokovic has been left annoyed playing Machac before (Image: Getty)
Novak Djokovic is preparing to head all the way to the final this year – but he’ll have to get through rival Tomas Machac first. The Serbian won’t be facing Machac for the first time, and one encounter they had in Geneva won’t bring back happy memories for Djokovic, who fell victim to a sudden illness.
During an ATP tournament in Geneva last year, came up against Machac first, securing a lead over the Czech tennis player quickly. However, the burning sun and untimely illness seemed to grab a hold of the Serbian, as he used an ice towel to try and lessen his struggles.
His 24-year-old opponent saw an opportunity to take the reins over the tennis icon, and he won the first set. Machac was stunned in the second set, as fought back to win it – without giving even a single point back to his opponent. However, things would get worse for the struggling superstar.
After facing another mid-match setback while not feeling 100 per cent, Djokovic vented out his frustration, lashing out and shouting: “What else can happen, really, is it not enough?”
Djokovic’s hopes were ultimately crushed as Machac won the match in the final set and stated he had “no reaction” to beating the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Machac said: “I have no reaction right now. You just fight for every ball and hope when you’re playing against Novak… you just hope… you try to play your best and see what it looks like.”
This wasn’t the first time that the pair had faced off against each other, however, as a previous match in Dubai had left Djokovic frustrated – but not with himself. At the Dubai Tennis Championships in 2023, the Serbian eventually overpowered Machac to win 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(1).
Djokovic did acknowledge the Czech’s prowess during the match, and noted that he had been frustrated by how good Machac had played against him. At the time, the now-37-year-old said: “Tomas certainly didn’t play like the No.130 in the world today. He was giving me all kinds of trouble. But I guess when it mattered, I found another gear.”
The pair have met just two times in tennis, sharing one win each – but Machac won’t be quick to assume that he will win once again tomorrow, like he did in Geneva. The young athlete was highly complimentary of Djokovic when they first met in Dubai, as he praised the Serbian’s “true level” of greatness and claimed he was one of the best of all time in the sport.
Tomas Machac has given Djokovic some trouble before (Image: Getty)
Machac said: “I knew that I had the level to compete against the best, but it is always special to face a legend like Novak, the best player. The normal thing, when you face someone like that, is to be a little nervous. Everyone is and that was the case for me too. After the first set I started to feel the ball much better, to have a lot of confidence in my game.
“In the third set I was losing 4-2 or 3-1, I don’t remember, but I was able to break serve and tie the match. That’s when I saw Novak’s true level of tennis: after breaking his serve, I didn’t have any opportunity to get close to his serve, not even in the tiebreak, I was always the one in tow.
“He saw it, he felt it and that’s why he’s the best: even when you start playing better, he’s able to find another gear. It was a great experience for me, I showed myself that I have the level to play against, I would say, the best of all time.”
Djokovic will take on Machac for the third time at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Friday, at approximately 8am UK time. They will go head to head for the chance to make it to the fourth round of the , and a potential run to the final.