(Melbourne) A year later, Novak Djokovic made a successful debut at the Australian Open tennis tournament.
Djokovic, the fourth seed, edged Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in the first round of the season’s first major tournament.
The Serbian, holder of nine Australian Open titles, was expelled from the country last year on the eve of the start of the tournament due to his COVID-19 vaccination status. This time, he did not miss the appointment, and his supporters made sure to remember his presence.
“The atmosphere was amazing. Thank you all for staying despite the late hour. Furthermore, I would like to thank you for having welcomed me so well; I couldn’t have asked for a better reception, Djokovic told the crowd on the court after the game. I am very happy to be back in Australia, the very place where I had some of my greatest career successes. »
The posters encouraging him, the dozens of Serbian flags and the spectators chanting ‘Nole’ seemed to transport him. Djokovic also briefly waved to the crowd with his left hand as he jumped onto the pitch around 10:30 p.m. local time. Then he immediately got to work and played at a very high level – the only jarring note was when he seemed to suffer from hamstring discomfort, forcing him to wrap his left leg.
On his level of play, Djokovic said he was “on the spur of the moment” in the second set, before adding that he gave his opponent no respite in the following set. As for his hamstrings, the Serb mentioned that he was concerned before the start of the game, but after the game he came to the following conclusion: “The leg is fine. It’s not ideal, but it’s getting better.
Djokovic started the game with an ace at 201 km / h and won the first point at zero, before taking control of the first set by knowing a streak of 12 points against the 75e world racket. Djokovic finally sealed the outcome shortly after midnight local time.
Meanwhile, at Margaret Court Arena, second-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway worked hard before taking the measure of Czech Tomas Machac, 110e in the world, 6-3, 7-6 (8), 6-7 (5) and 6-3. Ruud will now face American Jenson Brooksby.
Earlier, after four hours and 54 minutes, veteran Andy Murray scored an epic victory over Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday, winning 6-3, 6-3, 4 -6, 6-7 (7) and 7-6 (6).
PHOTO PAUL CROCK, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
Andy Murray saved a match point before beating Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (10/6) in 4:49.
“I have questioned myself a lot over the past few years. Many people doubted me, and my abilities, to know if I could play at such a high level in the biggest tournaments and in the biggest games, mentioned Murray, a former world No. 66e rank. I am very proud of my performance. It’s been a long time since I felt that at the end of a game. »
The 35-year-old Scot took a 5-0 lead in the final tiebreaker, then 6-1 and 8-3.
He then allowed three points in a row, before giving himself a match point with a smash.
Murray converted it by going there from a return that hit the net, only to narrowly cross to the other side.
He overcame 31 aces from the Italian, getting 10 himself.
The No. 13 seed, Berrettini also had a 72-39 lead in game-winning shots, but Murray grabbed three of four breaks in a thrilling duel.
“It’s impressive what he manages to do after so many operations, after all those kilometers of racing over the course of his career,” Berrettini said of the Scot. It shows his love for our sport, his love for such tough matches. »
Aged 35, Murray reached the final of the first stage of the Grand Slam in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016. He lost four times to Djokovic, and once to the Swiss Roger Federer.
“He’s a great champion. I say it often, mentioned Berrettini, who stars in Netflix’s new documentary series ‘Break Point’. I loved the atmosphere during the game against him today. It was a very good match. Unfortunately, it didn’t end in my favor. »
The Briton won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016, as well as the US Open in 2012.
Rated 66eMurray beat a top-20 player in a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017.
His next rival will be Thanasi Kokkinakis or Fabio Fognini.
It seemed unlikely that the evening program at the Rod Laver Arena would be as high as the afternoon one featuring the Murray-Berrettini duel. First there was the 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-1 victory of the second seed, the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, against Tamara Zidansek, then the entry of Djokovic.
Sabalenka still undefeated
Earlier on Tuesday, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka went unbeaten in 2023, winning 6-1, 6-4 over Tereza Martincova.
A big winner in Adelaide in the first week of the new year, Sabalenka had 29 winners against just seven for her opponent.
She thus collected a fifth victory in a row in 2023.
Fifth seed, Sabalenka has never won a Grand Slam tournament since the start of her career.
In the second round, she will face American Shelby Rogers, who defeated Dutch Arianne Hartono 6-4, 6-3.
Garbine Muguruza, a tournament runner-up three years ago, lost a fifth straight game to start the year, losing 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 to Elise Mertens.
Fifth-seeded men’s Andrey Rublev won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 against Dominic Thiem, who was invited by the organizers.
Thiem reached the final in Melbourne in 2020; later that year he triumphed at Flushing Meadows.
He has missed the majority of 2021 due to injury; last year he managed to narrowly move back into the top 100, starting from further back than the top 350.
Thiem has lost his last seven games against top 10 players.
Rublev’s next rival will be Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori or Australian qualifier Max Purcell.
