Novak Djokovic’s victory returns to the Australian Open

I am very happy to have found this course again… If I had to choose the ideal playing conditions it would be in the evening on this Rod-Laver course, without the slightest hesitationDjokovic fired at the crowd who stayed up late to support him.

Thus, the Serbian, seeded fourth, launched his quest to win the tenth title in the Grand Slam tournament, to equal the record achieved by Rafael Nadal, which is 22 titles in the four major tournaments.

Djokovic is playing the tournament as the fifth player in the world and could regain the top spot if he wins the first trick of a Grand Slam.

He will face Bolivian Hugo Delin or Frenchman Enzo Quacode in the second round.

Before appearing in Melbourne, Djokovic fired his counters this year at the Palm picking in Adelaide. He finished the 2022 season on a high note with three crowns in four tournaments, incl ATP Finalsafter the North American tour.

Rublev is too strong to bring Tim back

Dominic Thiem, who was previously injured, has not played in Melbourne since being knocked out in the Round of 16 in 2021. He faced a very difficult opponent for his comeback, Russia’s Andrey Rublev (No. 5), who won 6-3, 6-4 and 6-2.

The former world number three, who fell to 98th and received an invitation, was absent from the circuit for 10 months between 2021 and 2022 due to a wrist injury.

He’s trying to get back to his best, but a player of Rublev’s level is clearly still too much of a hurdle for the Austrian, who reached the 2020 Australian Grand Final, the year he won the Grand Slam tournament at the US Open.

Last year he lost in the first round of the two main events he fought, at Roland Garros and at Flushing Meadows. For his part, Rublev continues his journey on Thursday against Finn Emil Rossovori (46) or Australian Max Purcell (205 and from the qualifiers), whose match was stopped on Tuesday due to rain.

The 25-year-old Russian was knocked out in the third round last year in Melbourne, where he reached the quarter-finals in 2021.

He also played in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros (2020 and 2022) and at the US Open (2017, 2020 and 2022), without ever reaching the last four. He never made it past the knockout stages at Wimbledon.

Murray creates the surprise

Britain’s Andy Murray saved a match point before defeating Italy’s Matteo Berrettini (No. 13) 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (7/9) and 7-6 (10/6) after 4 hours and 49 minutes. from playing. .

I’m going to have a go at it tonight and tomorrow, but for now I’m so happy and proud of myself.said the five-time finalist in Melbourne (2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016).

I’ve worked a lot in recent months to be able to play at this level on stadiums like this, in games like this, against players like Mathieu.said the 35-year-old.

Under the eyes of his coach Ivan Lendl, a two-time winner in 1989 and 1990, Murray saved a match point at 4-5 on serve in the fifth set before capitalizing on a match point assist to break super par.

He will face Australian Tanasi Kokkinakis or Italian Fabio Fognini on Thursday.

Brittini, who was 10 years younger than him last year’s semi-finalist, played very well and was able to count on his colossal serve (31 aces, including 10 in the last round) and on his strength in general (72 winning moves).

However, the Scottish warrior did not have the habit of giving up. And if his stats are less brilliant than those of his rival (10 aces and 40 winning moves), he also made fewer unforced errors (34 vs. 59).

Above all, Murray still has the steely mind that led him to forge Big 4 Along with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

He didn’t flinch from a match point on defense and quickly broke away in a tiebreaker to take an 8-3 lead.

In Controls 8-5, he missed an offense with a forehand probably Easy to give him four match points. Instead, Perrettini was allowed to return at 8-6.

At 9-6, his ball from the net slowed enough to fall just out of reach of Berrettini’s run.