Mission title defense in Australia: Djokovic struggles against teenagers (18) – but is through

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

Novak Djokovic started his mission to defend his Australian Open title with a difficult victory. The Grand Slam record champion defeated Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic 6:2, 6:7 (5:7), 6:3, 6:4 in Melbourne after more than four hours of play and could not save any energy.

Djokovic had to fight for every point against the 18-year-old, while Prizmic’s Grand Slam debut won the sympathy of the spectators in the packed Rod Laver Arena as the playing time increased. Djokovic repeatedly struggled with himself and only took control of the match at the end of the third set. He only used his seventh match point to win. “He deserves every round of applause. He is an incredible player,” Djokovic said of his opponent: “He really gave me value for my money.”

Sinner is also over

In the second round, the Serbian, who is aiming for his eleventh victory in Australia and has won the title four times in the past five years, will face Australian Alexei Popyrin or his compatriot Marc Polmanns.

Jannik Sinner was previously the first top player to reach the second round. Encouraged by his “Carota Boys” in the stands, the Italian Davis Cup champion easily defeated the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in his opening match with 6:4, 7:5, 6:3.

Berrettini has to go home

Andrei Rublev, the number five in the world, only jumped over his opening hurdle with great difficulty. The Russian defeated Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild in a five-set thriller 7:5, 6:4, 3:6, 3:6, 7:6 (10:6) and will face the US in the second round. Eubanks or the Japanese Taro Daniel.

The tournament is already over for the Italian Matteo Berrettini; the 2022 semi-finalist cannot play the match against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas scheduled for Monday due to a foot injury and has withdrawn.

Teenagers on the rise

Two teenagers caused a stir among the women on the first day. With the Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova and Alina Kornejewa from Russia, both from qualifying, two 16-year-olds reached the second round. The last time two sixteen-year-olds won a match at a Grand Slam tournament was in 2007 in Wimbledon: the later world number one Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark and the Austrian Tamira Paszek.

Defending champion Sabalenka went without a hitch

Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s women’s winner, had to fight less than Novak Djokovic. The world number 2 from Belarus did not give the German qualifier Ella Seidel (WTA 172) a chance with 6:0, 6:1. The match lasted only 55 minutes. Sabalenka will now face 16-year-old Fruhvirtova in the second round. (AFP/SDA/mom)

Source : Blick