Novak Djokovic demonstrated exactly why he is the premier player on the planet by battling back from the brink to beat Stanislas Wawrinka and reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.<\/p>\n
The world No. 1 was given a lesson for the best part of two sets, in a similar manner to how Rafael Nadal was against Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n
Nadal failed to find a way to get the job done, and has not been seen on a court since but \u2013 from a set and 4-1 down \u2013 Djokovic weathered the storm to move ahead. Wawrinka forced a fifth set, but the defending champion steeled himself once again to claim a 1-6 7-5 6-4 6-7(4) 12-10 win.<\/p>\n
Wawrinka laid down a marker in the opening game. He sent a ripping backhand flashing past Djokovic, but three aces from the world No. 1 helped him hold serve.<\/p>\n
The barrage from Wawrinka continued, flat missiles on the forehand and precision topspin at pace on the backhand wing, and he broke through in the third game.<\/p>\n
Wawrinka won 82% of points behind his own serve in the first set and that cushion allowed him to attack Djokovic. A quite stunning crosscourt backhand that appeared to defy the laws of physics secured him a second break and a 4-1 lead.<\/p>\n
A confident Wawrinka showed his full repertoire by ghosting in for a volley and then thrilled the crowd with a superb winner that went round the net post.<\/p>\n
Djokovic looked shell-shocked and a truly awful forehand that flew five yards over the baseline summed up the first set. Wawrinka\u2019s effort in the first set was summed up on the final point, as a whipped forehand caught the outside of the line.<\/p>\n
It appeared normal service would be resumed as Djokovic regrouped to break at the start of the second. Wawrinka has proved a shade brittle in the past, but he steeled himself to carve out three break points in the following game. He took the second when Djokovic surprisingly netted a backhand.<\/p>\n
Djokovic lost his footing on a number of occasions and changed his footwear mid-way through the second set. The change of trainers did not aid him, as winners continued to fly off the Wawrinka racket and he crafted a second break of the second set \u2013 a blistering backhand down the line leaving Djokovic a bewildered spectator.<\/p>\n
The second break prompted a muttering of disbelief from Djokovic for the first time in the match and the frustration continued as Wawrinka backed up the break with a strong hold \u2013 again hitting lines off both wings.<\/p>\n