The day after he narrowly avoided disqualification after whacking a ball inches from a ball kid’s head, Novak Djokovic received another hefty slice of luck as his next opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew, ushering the 10-time champion through to the quarter-finals.

Mensik beat Djokovic last year in the final of the Miami Open and would have been a severe test.

Instead, the Serb can put his 38-year-old feet up and await the winner of today’s match between Lorenzo Musetti and Taylor Fritz.

Mensik revealed to followers on Instagram on Sunday morning that he had been advised not to play in the match by medical professionals after suffering an abdominal muscle injury.

‘This is a tough one to write,’ the 20-year-old wrote on Instagram on Sunday.

‘After doing everything we could to keep going, I have to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal muscle injury that has progressed over the last [few] matches.

Novak Djokovic (pictured) has benefitted from another big slice of luck after the Serbian star recieved a walkover to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open

Djokovic was due to face off against Jakub Mensik (pictured) but the Czech star was forced to pull out of the tournament with an injury

Following consultation with his medical team, Mensik revealed that he had sustained an abdominal muscle injury and would not be returning to feature in the quarter-final

‘After a long discussion with my team and doctors, we [have] decided not to step on court tomorrow.’

The world No 17 had advanced to the fourth round of the Grand Slam, with victories against Spanish duo Pablo Carreno Busta and Rafael Jodar, before he bested American star Ethan Quinn over three sets.

‘Even though I’m disappointed, making the 4th round here for the first time is something I will carry with me for a long time,’ the Czech star added.

‘I felt so much energy from the fans and the atmosphere in Melbourne was truly special.

‘Thank you to my team for being with me every step, and to everyone sending messages and cheering – it means more than you know.

‘Now it’s time to recover properly.’

On Sunday, Daniil Medvedev suffered a straight-sets defeat by American star Learner Tien on Margaret Court Arena. It is the second time in successive years that the Russian has been knocked out of the Australian Open by the 20-year-old, after Tien beat the world No 12 over five sets last year.

Upon learning of Mensik’s injury, Medvedev paused during his post-match press conference to offer his support to the Czech star.

Mensik (right) had advanced to secure a tie against Djokovic after securing victory against Ethan Quinn (left) in the third round

While Mensik expressed his ‘disappointment’ his fourth-round exit is his highest finish ever at a Grand Slam

‘Abdominal. Yeah, that’s super unfortunate,’ Medvedev said. ‘These things happen. I mean, Rafa had to pull out what, I think, after a semi-final at Wimbledon, so even a bit more unfortunately, not the quarter-final.

‘Who was he supposed to play? Oh, Novak in the fourth round. Yeah, unfortunate, that would be a great match. He beat him in Miami.

‘These things happen. The only thing, I saw him in the locker room, I had no idea. The only thing I can say, it’s unfortunate for him. He’s a strong guy, super young, so he’ll have his chances more. Hopefully nothing too serious.’

Djokovic, meanwhile, narrowly avoided landing in hot water with Australian Open chiefs on Saturday evening after he nearly hit a ball kid with a tennis ball during his victory against Botic van de Zandschulp.

During the second set, the Dutch star had sent a groundstroke beyond Djokovic’s baseline to concede the point.

But bizarrely, instead of letting the ball travel past him, Djokovic decided to recklessly swipe at the ball.

He fizzed a low forehand diagonally across his side of the court, towards a ball kid who was crouching at the net.

The 38-year-old was extremely fortunate that the ball did not strike the girl, with the ball kid seen ducking to avoid the shot.

Djokovic, meanwhile, avoided landing in hot water on Saturday after he nearly struck a ball kid with a fizzed forehand

Had the ball hit the girl, Tennis Australia chiefs would have had grounds to end Djokovic’s 25th Grand Slam tilt early.

Djokovic was notably disqualified from the 2020 US Open after he struck a line judge in the neck with a tennis ball.

According to the Grand Slam rules, an official or referee can default a player should they be found to have ‘hit a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hit a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences.’

‘I apologised for that,’ Djokovic said, when speaking on Saturday’s incident.

‘That was not necessary and in the heat of the moment.

‘I was lucky there and I’m sorry for causing any distress to the ball kid or anybody.’