Novak Djokovic Beats Gilles Simon In Last 16

Defending champion Novak Djokovic survived a scare against Gilles Simon to reach the last eight of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Five-time champion Djokovic made 100 unforced errors but finally prevailed 6-3 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-3 after four hours and 32 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic, 28, is through to his 27th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final.

The Serb plays Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the last eight after the seventh seed beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-2 6-4.

Nishikori broke Tsonga’s serve five times while the Frenchman hit eight double-faults in a flat display.

“Today was one of the best matches I’ve had this week,” said 28-year-old Nishikori, a US Open finalist in 2014.

“I’m surprised that I broke him early every set. I was returning well, so that made it tough for him to have a good serve all the time.” Hewitt’s final farewell

Australian Lleyton Hewitt bowed out of professional tennis when he and compatriot Sam Groth lost their men’s doubles match 6-4 6-2 to American Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil of Canada.

Hewitt, who lost to Spaniard David Ferrer in the second round of the singles, bows out at the age of 34, having won two Grand Slam titles and helping Australia lift the Davis Cup twice.

-bbcsports