The page is definitely turned. A year after the refused visa, the interrogation at Melbourne airport and the isolation in a detention center, Novak Djokovic finds a smile on the island-continent for his return to the Australian Open. Nole easily beat Roberto Carballes Baena in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 on Tuesday in the first round.
“I am so happy to have this court back…. If I had to choose ideal playing conditions, it would be at night on this Rod Laver court, without the slightest hesitation, ”said the Serb to the crowd who stayed late to support him. We will remember this sentence in case it comes out the same at Roland, in six months.
Facing a Frenchman in the 2nd round?
He thus launched his quest for a tenth trophy in the Antipodes Major to equal the record of 22 Grand Slam titles held by Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic plays the tournament as 5th in the world and can also recover the place of N.1 if he wins the tournament. In the next round, he will face the Bolivian Hugo Dellien (131st) or the French Enzo Couacaud (191st and from qualifying).