Within the evening session, Novak Djokovic earned his place within the fourth spherical with a straight-set victory over Czech participant Tomas Machac.
The Serb appeared exhausted at occasions within the match and wanted a medical timeout through the second set however got here via 6-1 6-4 6-2 on Rod Laver Enviornment.
The match had been billed as a possible stumbling block for the seventh seed, however a tally of 35 unforced errors from twenty sixth seed Machac accounted for over a 3rd of Djokovic’s factors.
“I used to be barely stunned with the outcome and to beat him in straight units,” Djokovic mentioned.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who’s aiming to win a document twenty fifth main and eleventh title in Melbourne, took the primary set with ease.
Nonetheless, a collection of intense rallies and an early break of serve in opposition to him within the second set left Djokovic needing to make use of an inhaler and requiring a medical timeout.
“I used to be making an attempt to catch my breath. I struggled a bit of bit. I am not 19 years outdated any extra you realize and also you undergo completely different phases in a match,” he mentioned.
A fired-up Djokovic powered to victory with a dominant efficiency within the third set, spurred on by frustration at spectators within the crowd who saved calling out throughout factors.
Djokovic will face Czech twenty fourth seed Jiri Lehecka within the final 16 earlier than a probably mouth-watering conflict with Alcaraz within the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, American twelfth seed Tommy Paul beat Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 6-0 whereas Frenchman Ugo Humbert progressed after compatriot Arthur Fils withdrew due to damage early within the fourth set of their match.