Australian Open
Djokovic gets going: victory in the 100th game in Melbourne
Novak Djokovic converted his first match point against the Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry after 2:28 hours. photo
© Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP/dpa
Novak Djokovic is slowly getting going at the Australian Open. For the first time this year he doesn’t give a sentence.
In his 100th game at the Australian Open Novak Djokovic found his way back to his old strength and played like a top favorite in Melbourne for the first time this year. The world number one, who has already won the Grand Slam opener ten times, won clearly in the third round against the Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6:3, 6:3, 7:6 (7:2).
After two difficult successes in the previous two rounds, Djokovic was not in danger this time in the Rod Laver Arena and converted his first match point after 2:28 hours. “That was my best performance in this tournament,” said Djokovic happily after the game. “I’m very happy in that respect. I found the right shots in the tiebreak,” said the Serb, who will now face Adrian Mannarino in the round of 16. The Frenchman defeated the American Ben Shelton in five sets.
Djokovic had everything under control against Etcheverry
Alexander Zverev wants to follow Djokovic into the round of 16 this Saturday. The organizers somewhat surprisingly scheduled the third round encounter against the American Alex Michelsen as the second game in the night session (9 a.m. CET/Eurosport) in the Rod Laver Arena. Before that, the Polish world number one Iga Swiatek and the Czech Linda Noskova will play against each other in the largest stadium in Melbourne Park.
For the first time this year, Djokovic looked as dominant on his favorite court as he has almost always done in the past. The 36-year-old Serb was struggling with a cold at the start of the tournament and looked far from his best. Djokovic had to do hard work in both the first round against Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic and in the second round against Australian Alexei Popyrin and lost one set in each case. He seemed more vulnerable than ever in Melbourne.
Against Etcheverry, however, the Serb had everything under control from the start. In the first two sets he always managed an early break. Unlike Prizmic and Popyrin, the Argentinian was unable to put Djokovic under pressure with his style of play and therefore only rarely put him in trouble. For Djokovic it was the 31st victory in a row in Melbourne. He won the tennis spectacle on the Yarra River in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. In 2022 he was not allowed to play in Melbourne because he was not vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Jannik Sinner continues to be in top form. The Italian easily won against Argentinian Sebastián Báez 6:0, 6:1, 6:3 and is the only top player in Melbourne without losing a set. Towards the end of last year, Sinner had already shown some outstanding performances at the ATP finals and in the Davis Cup.
Defending champion Sabalenka will now face Anisimova
For the women, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is still the measure of all things. The world number two from Belarus outclassed the Ukrainian Lessia Zurenko 6-0, 6-0 in the third round and was again in impressive form. After just 52 minutes, the one-sided game was already over. In the first round, Sabalenka was merciless against the German qualifier Ella Seidel and won 6:0, 6:1.
“I’m just super happy with the level I’m playing at the moment. I hope I can maintain it or maybe even play better,” said Sabalenka, who will now face American Amanda Anisimova.
US Open champion Coco Gauff is also still in very good shape. The 19-year-old American easily defeated her compatriot Alycia Parks 6:0, 6:2. “I’m very happy with the way I’m playing so far,” said Gauff.