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Djokovic drew Serbia level at 1-1 in the $10
million mixed team tournament and had been scheduled to compete
in the mixed doubles decider with Olga Danilovic before being
replaced by the 20-year-old Hamad Medjedovic.
The young Serbian duo overcame Petr Nouza and Miriam
Kolodziejova 4-6 7-6(2) 10-8 to send Serbia into the last eight
where they will play hosts Australia on Wednesday.
Djokovic, gearing up for a tilt at a record-extending 11th
Australian Open title this month, appeared to be bothered by his
right wrist in practice and occasionally grimaced in the opening
set at the RAC Arena.
The Serb had his wrist worked on by a trainer after the first
set and Lehecka sensed an opportunity, winning the second set in
a tiebreak.
Djokovic took a medical timeout before the start of the third
and came out firing, running up a 5-0 lead before sealing the
match.
The 36-year-old said the wrist was sore.
"But I managed to play it through and it's not the first or the
last time," he added. "These things happen. You just have to
manage and find a solution.
"Let's see what happens now."
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova had earlier given the
Czechs a 1-0 lead by beating Danilovic 6-1 3-6 6-3.
Poland will take on China in Wednesday's other quarter-final in
Perth.
Greece were stunned by Chile in their Group B opener, with Maria
Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas losing 6-7(5) 6-3 10-6 to Daniela
Seguel and Tomas Barrios Vera in the mixed doubles decider at
Sydney's Ken Rosewell Arena.
Sakkari beat Seguel 6-0 6-1 in the opener before Chile's Jarry
downed Stefanos Sakellaridis 6-3 3-6 7-5 to level the tie after
the Greeks decided not to field Australian Open runner-up
Tsitsipas in the singles.
The Australian Open runs from Jan. 14-28 at Melbourne Park.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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