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Djokovic wins 17th straight match at Aussie Open
Djokovic broke the 34th-ranked Stepanek late in each set, but was troubled at times against a wily veteran who mixed up the tempo with a lot of serve-and-volley and some unorthodox shot-making.
"Absolutely it was great. Great match and great fun," Djokovic said. "It's always tricky to play Radek. He's a talented player. Skillful player."
Told about the statistics — Stepanek won 36 of the 67 points he played at the net — Djokovic wasn't surprised at all.
"He's skillful on the net and he was not giving me a lot of rhythm — he was changing up the pace on the ball," Djokovic said. "Nowadays everything is based on the baseline. It's nice to see somebody coming to the net."
Stepanek had Djokovic smiling and acknowledging his winners on some points, frustrated him on others with his constant, stay-in-the-point defense, and even had chair umpire Carlos Bernardes grinning with his over-the-shoulder winner to save one match point near the end.
Djokovic, the two-time defending champion who also won the title at Melbourne Park in 2008, is hoping to become the first man in the Open era to win three consecutive Australian titles. He will next play either American Sam Querrey or Switzerland's Stanislaw Wawrinka in the fourth round Sunday.
Djokovic broke the 34th-ranked Stepanek late in each set, but was troubled at times against a wily veteran who mixed up the tempo with a lot of serve-and-volley and some unorthodox shot-making.
"Absolutely it was great. Great match and great fun," Djokovic said. "It's always tricky to play Radek. He's a talented player. Skillful player."
Told about the statistics — Stepanek won 36 of the 67 points he played at the net — Djokovic wasn't surprised at all.
"He's skillful on the net and he was not giving me a lot of rhythm — he was changing up the pace on the ball," Djokovic said. "Nowadays everything is based on the baseline. It's nice to see somebody coming to the net."
Stepanek had Djokovic smiling and acknowledging his winners on some points, frustrated him on others with his constant, stay-in-the-point defense, and even had chair umpire Carlos Bernardes grinning with his over-the-shoulder winner to save one match point near the end.
Djokovic, the two-time defending champion who also won the title at Melbourne Park in 2008, is hoping to become the first man in the Open era to win three consecutive Australian titles. He will next play either American Sam Querrey or Switzerland's Stanislaw Wawrinka in the fourth round Sunday.
Inače Novak je ušao u drugu nedelju na 15-om uzastopnom GS. Fed je prvi sa nizom od 34 GS.
Ben Rothenberg
Djokovic wins 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 over Stepanek to make second week for a 15th consecutive Slam. Second only to Federer's streak of 34.
Djokovic wins 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 over Stepanek to make second week for a 15th consecutive Slam. Second only to Federer's streak of 34.
Nole
majstore i da mu poželim da nastavi da uživa na terenu jer sve, i dalje, zavisi isključivo od njega, a dokle god je tako dobro je svima nama 
Kad ga tu Feca nije spuco... 
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