Novak Djokovic swept to victory in his first singles match on Australian soil since being deported a yr in the past, crushing Frenchman Fixed Lestienne on the Adelaide Worldwide on Tuesday to kick-start his bid for one more Grand Slam title.
The Serbian famous person was given a heat welcome when he performed a shedding doubles conflict on Monday and obtained related therapy on a packed centre court docket.
He received comfortably 6-3, 6-2 in 74 minutes, breaking as soon as within the first set and twice within the second.
“For the primary match I can’t complain, I performed very properly,” Djokovic mentioned. “I believed the primary in all probability six video games had been very aggressive.
“I’ve by no means confronted him earlier than at this time’s match. He’s a counter-puncher. He doesn’t make too many errors and he sort of absorbs the tempo from his opponent, sort of difficult serve, hits his spots.
“However as soon as I made that break at 3-2 first set I felt like I stepped it up one or two ranges and performed actually good tennis the remainder of the match.”
It was his first singles conflict within 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 within the 2021 Australian Open remaining, additionally tasted victory, saving an unbelievable 9 set factors on his strategy to a 7-6 (8/6), 2-1 win over Italian Lorenzo Sonego who retired damage.
Prime seed Djokovic served to like to open his account and it went with serve till he pounced in sport 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 within the second, rapidly breaking twice to maneuver 3-0 clear earlier than cruising dwelling.
Djokovic will play one other Frenchman Quentin Halys subsequent for a spot within the quarter-finals of a match he received in 2007.
Earlier than his haul of 21 main trophies, the then 19-year-old Serb beat Chris Guccione within the remaining forward of his breakthrough overcome Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the Australian Open a yr later.
Former world primary Medvedev, seeded two, additionally progressed however was given a troublesome exercise by Sonego, a champion in Metz final yr.
They performed a cracking 80-minute first set of their maiden assembly.
Sonego fended off three break factors, however the tables had been turned in sport 9 with the Russian pressured to avoid wasting six set factors after a collection of uncharacteristic unforced errors.
He saved one other three set factors within the subsequent sport earlier than prevailing within the tiebreak.
They exchanged breaks within the second set earlier than Sonego retired after therapy on his proper arm.
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, can be warming up for one more tilt on the Australian Open after struggling a demoralising five-set loss from two units up in opposition to Rafael Nadal within the remaining final yr when Djokovic was absent.
“I didn’t understand it was 9 set factors, that’s loopy and possibly the primary time in my life I’ve saved 9 set factors,” mentioned the world quantity seven.
“What a match to start out the yr and positively unlucky for everyone that it completed early despite the fact that we performed for 1hr 40mins. I’m completely happy to be by and to win the primary set.”
He’ll subsequent meet Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.
Fellow Russian Karen Khachanov additionally received, however in an upset on the ladies’s aspect, Estonian former world quantity two Anett Kontaveit was surprised by Chinese language qualifier Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7).
Former Grand Slam champions Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka play later Tuesday.
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