Novak Djokovic is playing tennis on his own terms in 2006, with the 37-year-old happy to pick and choose his events as a record-breaking career winds down.

Djokovic will be back on court at the Indian Wells Masters, his first event since losing the Australian Open final in January to Carlos Alcaraz after defeating Jannik Sinner in the semis.

The five-time champion won three trophies on the trot from 2014-2016 sounded happy to be back in a comfortable and familiar setting in the Californian desert.

“My logic is why not keep going as long as I have that fire and flair and quality and also motivation to do that,” he said.

“Schedule is unclear; it revolves mostly around Slams. I pick and choose where I want to play. It’s not just from a tennis standpoint but also emotionally, whatever it is that inspires me to come.”

The Serb with 24 GrandSlam titles added: “Indian Wells has been always a location that I was really happy to come back to in a tournament that I really love playing.

“I haven’t had great results and performances in the last 10 years, but in the first 10 years of my career, this was one of my best tournaments.

“I really enjoy the thrill of competition. I enjoy still getting out there in front of the
fans and really being competitive.”

The ATP No. 3 said he sees no signs yet of slowing. “No. 3 is no so bad in erms of ranking and results and performances.

“I’m still competitive. I still have that edge, and I’ll keep on
going as long as I feel like it.”

Stan Wawrinka wrapped up his career with a fourth-round loss and then shared a beer on court to make the end of his Australian Open career on Saturday.

The 40-year old three-time Grand Slam champion lost a battle to Taylor Fritz 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and walked off court for the final time at the event where he won his first Grand Slam title 12 years ago

The Swiss will retire at the end of this season after more than two decades in the sport in a career overshadowed somewhat by compatriot Roger Federer.

Wawrinka was farewelled after the match by TD Carig Tiley, with the pair sharing beers which Stan retrieved from his bag.

With his family and longtime coach Magnus Norman in the stadium, the fans gave the right-hander with perhaps the most beautiful and lethal backhand in the game a standing ovation.

“At the end of last year, I felt that retiring was the right thing to do,” Wawrinka said. “But this season is not a farewell tour.

“I wanted one last chance to say goodbye to the people of Melbourne; there are so many emotions here.

“I’m sad to leave but this has been an amazing journey.”

Main photo:- Stan Wawrinka shares a tinnie with Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley

Carlos Alcaraz marched into the Australian Open fourth round on Friday with a methodical 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Corentin Moutet.

The top seed who came to the first major of the season without an official tune-up event, showed no signs of rust as he completed his third win of the week, dispatching the Frenchman in just over two hours.

The Spaniard sent over 30 winners in victory to move to the last 16 where he will play Tommy Paul, who advanced with the loss of one game in each of the first two sets as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired.

“It’s obviously unfortunate that he had to pull out,” Paul said. “It’s sometimes difficult when somebody’s struggling to keep focused. 

“I thought I did a pretty good job with that. I’ve been playing pretty good tennis
so far this tournament. Really looking forward to the next match”

Alcaraz called his win over Moutet, the last Frenchman standing, “not an easy match, to be honest.” 

“Someone like him, you never know what you will be next.

“But I had fun on the court, we had some great shots, some great points. There were quite a few highlights. It’s fun to play these kinds of matches.”

The flashy pair traded drop shots back and forth, with Alcaraz admitting  he got caught out more than once.

The world No. 1 was competing in his 100th match at a Grand Slam, standing 87-13.

US young gun Learner Tien schooled Portugal’s Nuno Borges with a 7-6 (9), 6-4, 6-2 win to match his showing here a year ago by reaching the fourth round well after midnight.

Tien, winner in 2025 over three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in five sets, set up a repeat battle with the former world No. 1 for this weekend.

“I think it’s pretty crazy that we end up playing here again a year later. Yeah, I’m
looking forward to it,” Tien said.

“Everything’s gotten a lot better just in general, I have a year’s worth of experience under my belt now. 

“Just playing more matches at this level has been really big for me, just getting out there and experiencing these different matchups that I haven’t had
before.

“Having to work my way through the ups and downs of the season has been huge for me.”

Medvedev advanced in five sets over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-7 (5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3, another in her series of fightbacks from the depths.

“In a lot of these love-2 sets comebacks, in the fourth set I easy because I feel strong physically. The fifth set, the guy comes back, like, strong.

“That’s what happened last year many, many times. I lost all the matches having a break up coming back from two sets to love down. 

“So I’m happy that I managed to stay strong, not let this get into my head, and finish the match. What happens in the past doesn’t matter – what happens today is the most important.”

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz into fourth round – by ISF Ltd