Novak Djokovic swept to victory in his first singles match on Australian soil since being deported a 12 months in the past, crushing Frenchman Constant Lestienne on the Adelaide International on Tuesday to kick-start his bid for an additional Grand Slam title.
Serbian tennis participant Novak Djokovic hits a return throughout his first spherical match in opposition to France’s Constant Lestienne on the ATP Adelaide International match in Adelaide on 3 January 2023. Picture: Brenton EDWARDS/AFP
ADELAIDE – Novak Djokovic swept to victory in his first singles match on Australian soil since being deported a 12 months in the past, crushing Frenchman Constant Lestienne on the Adelaide International on Tuesday to kick-start his bid for an additional Grand Slam title.
The Serbian famous person was given a heat welcome when he performed a dropping doubles clash on Monday and obtained comparable remedy on a packed centre courtroom.
He received comfortably 6-3, 6-2 in 74 minutes, breaking as soon as in the first set and twice in the second.
“For the first match I can’t complain, I played very well,” Djokovic mentioned. “I thought the first probably six games were very competitive.
“I’ve by no means confronted him earlier than right this moment’s match. He’s a counter-puncher. He does not make too many errors and he type of absorbs the tempo from his opponent, type of difficult serve, hits his spots.
“But once I made that break at 3-2 first set I felt like I stepped it up one or two levels and played really good tennis the rest of the match.”
It was his first singles clash in the nation after being kicked out earlier than the 2022 Australian Open for not being vaccinated for COVID-19. Djokovic was subsequently barred from re-entering for 3 years.
The ban was lifted in November, permitting him an opportunity to win an unprecedented tenth Australian Open crown at Melbourne Park later this month.
Danill Medvedev, who misplaced to Djokovic in the 2021 Australian Open closing, additionally tasted victory, saving an unbelievable 9 set factors on his approach to a 7-6 (8/6), 2-1 win over Italian Lorenzo Sonego who retired damage.
Top seed Djokovic served to like to open his account and it went with serve till he pounced in recreation six, working two break factors with Lestienne netting a forehand to go 4-2 behind.
He calmly closed out the set in 38 minutes and took full management in the second, rapidly breaking twice to maneuver 3-0 clear earlier than cruising house.
Djokovic will play one other Frenchman Quentin Halys subsequent for a spot in the quarterfinals of a match he received in 2007.
Before his haul of 21 main trophies, the then 19-year-old Serb beat Chris Guccione in the ultimate forward of his breakthrough conquer Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the Australian Open a 12 months later.
Former world primary Medvedev, seeded two, additionally progressed however was given a troublesome exercise by Sonego, a champion in Metz final 12 months.
They performed a cracking 80-minute first set in their maiden assembly.
Sonego fended off three break factors, however the tables had been turned in recreation 9 with the Russian pressured to avoid wasting six set factors after a sequence of uncharacteristic unforced errors.
He saved one other three set factors in the subsequent recreation earlier than prevailing in the tiebreak.
They exchanged breaks in the second set earlier than Sonego retired after remedy on his proper arm.
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, can be warming up for an additional tilt on the Australian Open after struggling a demoralising five-set loss from two units up in opposition to Rafael Nadal in the ultimate final 12 months when Djokovic was absent.
“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,” mentioned the world quantity seven.
“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 subsequent meet Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.
Fellow Russian Karen Khachanov additionally received, however in an upset on the ladies’s facet, Estonian former world quantity two Anett Kontaveit was surprised by Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7).
Former Grand Slam champions Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka play later Tuesday.