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The incident happened after 10-time champion Djokovic, leading 6-3 4-2 at the time, saw a pacy return from world number 75 Van de Zandschulp go long for deuce.<\/p>\n
In a split-second, Djokovic casually hooked the ball left.<\/p>\n
“I don’t even think he knew the ball kid was there. But it was three inches from getting defaulted,” said former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, who was analysing the third-round match for BBC Radio 5 Live.<\/p>\n
“He’s hit that in an area where nine times out of 10 is probably a default. He’s managed somehow to sneak in between the ball kid and the spectators to the left.”<\/p>\n
In New York little over five years ago, it was a clear-cut case.<\/p>\n
Djokovic took a ball out of his pocket and hit it behind him, striking the female line judge in her throat.<\/p>\n
It was an infamous incident which the Serb swiftly apologised for, saying it had left him “really sad and empty”.<\/p>\n
Given he felt he needed to apologise again in Melbourne, many will question whether Djokovic has learned his lesson.<\/p>\n
He also fell awkwardly during the third set and, shortly afterwards, received treatment for a blister on his right foot.<\/p>\n
But ultimately Djokovic won in two hours and 44 minutes, keeping up his record of not yet dropping a set at this event, and a lighter workload could prove critical for his hopes of winning standalone record 25th Grand Slam singles title.<\/p>\n
He will play Czech 16th seed Jakub Mensik in round four.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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