Again on the Australian Open for the primary time since he lifted the championship trophy for the unprecedented ninth time in 2021, fourth seed Novak Djokovic recorded his twenty second consecutive win in Melbourne to kickstart his title bid.
9-time champion Novak Djokovic started his marketing campaign for a record-extending tenth title in Melbourne with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 victory over world no.75 Roberto Carballes Baena on Tuesday night.
The Serbian star breezed previous the Spaniard in two hours and two minutes to achieve the second spherical. He broke as soon as in every of the primary two units. The third set was a one-way site visitors, with three breaks of serve for Novak, who saved all three break factors he confronted in the course of the match.
It was the pair’s second ATP H2H assembly. Djokovic gained his solely earlier match towards Carballes Baena in straight units on the 2019 US Open.
“Unbelievable environment,” Nole stated in his on-court interview. “Thanks for the reception which I might solely dream of. I actually really feel very glad that I’m again in Australia. This court docket is probably the most particular of my life and I couldn’t ask for a greater begin to the event. I used to be very happy with the best way I performed within the third set. I didn’t give him a lot probability to breathe and served effectively.”
Match statistics: aces (9-4), double faults (1-1), winners (41-14), unforced errors (21-16), web factors gained (23/26 – 3/6), complete factors gained (93-55).
Novak will subsequent face Hugo Dellien (BOL) or Enzo Couacaud (FRA, Q) on Thursday. The primary spherical encounter was delayed attributable to rain, and is scheduled on Wednesday.
Djokovic can safe a return to No.1 within the ATP Rankings by lifting the trophy.
