Djokovic gets the welcome he wished for
Novak Djokovic swept to victory in his first singles match on Australian soil since being deported a year ago, crushing Constant Lestienne at the Adelaide International Tuesday to kick-start his bid for another Grand Slam title.
The Serbian superstar was given a warm welcome when he played a losing doubles clash on Monday and received similar treatment on a packed centre court.
He beat the Frenchman comfortably 6-3, 6-2 in 74 minutes, breaking once in the first set and twice in the second.
"For the first match I can't complain, I played very well," Djokovic said.
"Thank you all for coming out today. Thank you for giving me the welcome that I could only wish for.
"Even the circumstances last year, it wasn't easy for anybody. But I'm just happy to be here focusing on tennis, and enjoying my time with you guys."
It was his first singles clash in the country after being kicked out before the 2022 Australian Open for not being vaccinated for Covid-19. Djokovic was subsequently barred from re-entering for three years.
The ban was lifted in November, allowing him a chance to win an unprecedented 10th Australian Open crown at Melbourne Park later this month.
Daniil Medvedev, who lost to Djokovic in the 2021 Australian Open final, also tasted victory, saving an incredible nine set points on his way to a 7-6 (8/6), 2-1 win over Italian Lorenzo Sonego who retired hurt.
Jannik Sinner, Denis Shapovalov and Victoria Azarenka were among other winners.
Top seed Djokovic served to love to open his account and it went with serve until he pounced in game six, working two break points with Lestienne netting a forehand to go 4-2 behind.
He calmly closed out the set in 38 minutes and took full control in the second, quickly breaking twice to move 3-0 clear before cruising home.
Djokovic will play another Frenchman Quentin Halys next for a place in the quarter-finals of a tournament he won in 2007.
Before his haul of 21 major trophies, the then 19-year-old Serb beat Chris Guccione in the final ahead of his breakthrough triumph over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open a year later.
Former world number one Medvedev, seeded two, also progressed but was given a tough workout by Sonego, a champion in Metz last year.
They played a cracking 80-minute first set in their maiden meeting.
Sonego fended off three break points, but the tables were turned in game nine with the Russian forced to save six set points after a series of uncharacteristic unforced errors.
He saved another three set points in the next game before prevailing in the tiebreak.
They exchanged breaks in the second set before Sonego retired after treatment on his right arm.
"I didn't know it was nine set points, that's crazy and probably the first time in my life I've saved nine set points," said Medvedev, who suffered a demoralising five-set loss from two sets up against Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final last year when Djokovic was absent.
"What a match to start the year and definitely unfortunate for everybody that it finished early even though we played for 1hr 40mins. I'm happy to be through and to win the first set."
He will next meet Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.
Sixth seeded Italian Sinner beat Britain's Kyle Edmund in straight sets while Canadian seventh seed Shapovalov ground out a three set win over Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata.
In an upset on the women's side, Estonian former world number two Anett Kontaveit was stunned by Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7).
But former two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka survived a tough battle with Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina 7-6 (11/9), 7-6 (7/5).
(责任编辑:资讯)
- NASA's new plan keeps Starliner astronauts in space until 2025
- Trump on North Korea: 'Things are going very well'
- Digital blackface on TikTok thrives via audio trends
- 雅安无水港快递物流园区复工
- Sports minister says audits into football, badminton federations set to conclude in Sept.
- Amazon Android Days sale 2024: Save on unlocked phones, tablets, and more
- Usyk targets Fury after Joshua win
- Photos show 'secret' Pompeo meeting with Kim
- 'Reading Rainbow' is having a moment on TikTok
- 12 Sculptures Made From Recycled Materials
- Govt. appoints head of new police bureau
- Elementary school entry age to be lowered to five
- 众志成城战疫情 齐心协力促生产
-
Swifties for Kamala raises over $100,000 in donations for Harris campaign
An estimated 27,000 Swifties gathered last night, not for the Eras Tour, but to rally for the electi ...[详细] -
Joshua brushes off 'nonsense' retirement talk
JEDDAH:Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua called retirement speculation "nonsense" on Wednes ...[详细] -
If at first you don't succeed, keep telling people that you're trying again.Facebook announced Monda ...[详细]
-
South Korea caught off guard by omicron’s summer resurgence
President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks at a government COVID-19 response meeting on Friday. (Yonhap)Presiden ...[详细] -
患者制作香囊“这是我们自己做的香囊,有安神助眠、除湿等功效,价格不贵,10元钱一个。”8月14日,雅安市第四人民医院门诊大厅的“爱心义卖”吸引了医院里不少人的目光。售卖香囊的是该院精神康复科的患者,售 ...[详细]
-
雅安日报/北纬网讯2月14日,记者获悉,位于市区西门南路的雅安无水港快递物流园区已于10日正式复工。记者了解到,雅安无水港快递物流园区目前共有中通、韵达、百世三家快递企业入驻,每天有近万个包裹从成都运 ...[详细]
-
雅安日报/北纬网讯“疫情要防,工作要找,收入要增……”连日来,芦山县芦阳街道办黎明社区防疫党员志愿宣传队,用顺口溜、快板、流动喇叭等形式宣传防控知识的同时,宣传企业招工信息,做到防疫生产两不误。芦山县 ...[详细]
-
NBA partners with Clear to screen fans for COVID
Want to watch your favorite team play hoops? Well, it might be a little like going to the airport. T ...[详细] -
Scout Brobst ,July 30, 2024 Venture Missio ...[详细]
-
Trump's treasury secretary was hopelessly crooked before the newest scandals even came along.
Recently in Politics Why the New Social Media Trend to Block Celebrities ...[详细]
Spaceship tech slashes energy usage of existing AC systems
Pompeo says Kim is serious about denuclearization talks
- The Astounding World of Automata
- Deepak Chopra on building a daily meditation habit: 'Make your body smile'
- Democratic Party slams Yoon administration for early missteps
- NBA's China, Hong Kong apology goes over badly in U.S.
- Prime exclusive deal: $50 off Govee floor lamp
- China's senior diplomat meets North Korea foreign minister
- Moon calls North Korea's nuke test suspension 'good signal'