Djokovic Relys on Physical Preparation and Mental Tennis to Win. Wikimedia Commons by Eklektekuria

Today, defending champion Djokovic, beat Lleyton Hewitt to advance to the quarter finals in the Australian Open. Hewitt gave Djokovic a little run for his money, however, in that he beat Djokovic in the second set. Observers say this was an unexpected event, but Djokovic downplayed his loss saying he was feeling fresh, prepared and felt he was playing really good tennis. Djokovic relys on physical preparation and mental tennis to win and thus advance his standing in the Australian open.

Tennis-X.com reports that of the Fab 4 only Djokovic and Murray are the only two to have lost a set.

Djokovic Relys on Physical Preparation and Mental Tennis to Win

Defending champion Novak Djokovic wasn’t suppose to lose a set to the aging veteran Lleyton Hewitt but he did. The feisty Australian pushed the World No. 1 but in the end the Serb was too tough taking out Hewitt in front of his home fans 61 36 64 63 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

Djokovic’s win lifts his Australian Open win streak to 11 and his overall Grand Slam streak to 18.

Of the Fab Four, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have yet to lose a set while Djokovic and Andy Murray have given up just one.

The 30-year-old Hewitt who beat Andy Roddick and then Milos Raonic Saturday acquitted himself well under the constant duress of Djokovic’s versatile game.

Djokovic will now play David Ferrer in the quarterfinals perhaps on Wednesday night.

Afterward, here’s what Djokovic said:

Q. What happened in the third set? You relaxed a bit or it was him?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I played some loose points and got him back into the match. But credit to him as well for being competitive, for not giving up.

This is something you can expect from Lleyton who is very well­known for his fighting spirit.

I should have closed it out earlier. I should have held my serve in 3­1, because I was playing well, I was feeling well. Suddenly I stopped. I didn’t move well anymore. He got back into the match.

But look, you know, he had the crowd, he had the big support. It got intense. Especially the start of the fourth set we had some great rallies. You know, it’s good to come out from this match as a winner.

Q. You had some physical problems?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No. Actually, I don’t. It’s just that I wasn’t happy with my movement and my legs were not working. Between that part, 3­0, third set for me, you know, beginning of the fourth, I wasn’t moving at all. I was pretty passive at the rallies, giving him opportunity to come in.

But, look, you know, you must expect that you experience some lows, as well, you know, not only highs. It’s good that you experience these things, you know, bad games, bad movements at this stage of the tournament, prior to the quarterfinals now.

Q. This was your first big test since the beginning of the tournament. How do you evaluate your form now?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think it’s good. You know, I think it’s good. It’s just that small part, maybe 45 minutes, one hour, where I wasn’t playing well and he did.

Look, as I said, it happens. I just have to keep on going. I’m confident that physically it’s not going to affect me too much, even though it’s very late. I’m going to play I think a night match again in two days.

You know, it was the first night match this year. So getting into these conditions. I think all of his matches were night matches.

You know, I’m not looking for excuses, but I’m saying, you know, it’s obviously the first match that I’ve been tested. It was against the player that I expected to be tested. You know, Lleyton was playing in front of his crowd. Obviously he loves competing against, you know, the top guys on the big stage, and he proved it again.

The Australian Open champ has some intense competition to meet as he continues to work toward retaining his championship. However, he brushes off his loss to Hewitt by saying he was not playing his best for 45 minutes, maybe an hour. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens in this, another Australian Open. You can read the remainder of the article here.