In a blockbuster Australian Open warm-up meeting between the two former world No 1s, it was 21-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic who shot out of the blocks quickest, as he surged to a 4-2 lead in the opening set.

Djokovic was in some discomfort in the seventh game after hyper-extending his left hamstring while stretching to make a forehand. However, he soldiered on and pulled off an exquisite lob before taking a medical timeout for treatment.

The 35-year-old Serb claimed the opening set and raised his game at 3-3 in the next by producing a blistering return and a smooth pass at the net, before Medvedev surrendered his serve with a double fault on breakpoint.

Djokovic saved a break point with a 200kmh second serve before holding firm from there to seal a comfortable victory.

“Thankfully it was nothing too serious,” Djokovic said of his injury in an on-court interview.

“If it was, I wouldn’t have been able to continue. I took anti-inflammatory (medication) and settled in.

“I was trying to keep the momentum going and not allow him to break my serve. That was the key. Eventually, I would get a chance. The longer the match went on, my hamstring got warmer and bothered me less.

“Hopefully, for tomorrow, it will be fine.”

The Jan 16-29 Australian Open will be without world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz following his leg injury – and the organisers of the Melbourne Park major would have endured tense moments after nine-time champion Djokovic clutched his leg.

“For me, at this level, at this stage of my career, and my life after quite a few years of professional tennis, every match counts. Every match is a present in a way,” Djokovic said.

“I try to give my best and win wherever I am.”

Up next for Djokovic is Korda, who reached the final after Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka retired due to an injury with the score at 7-6(5), 1-0.