Djoko confident of recovering in time for quarter-final

Defending champion Novak Djokovic said he'd be ready for his Australian Open quarter-final despite his five-hour struggle with Stanislas Wawrinka which finished in the early hours of Monday here

Last year, Djokovic recovered from a titanic semi-final with Andy Murray to win the longest title match in Grand Slam history, and said he could perform similar heroics in Tuesday's last-eight clash with Tomas Berdych.

It’s over at last: Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Stanislas Wawrinka at the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. Pic/AFP

u00a0“I’ve been in those situations before. I won against Murray in the semis after five hours, and then played against Rafa (Rafael Nadal) almost six hours,” said the Serbian world number one. “I know I can recover. I know I have it in me. I wasn't too much worried about the physical part. I was ready for it. I was ready to go the distance, and I’ve done so.

“Hopefully I can take that day off tomorrow and recover for the quarters.”

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