Novak Djokovic maintained his profitable streak in singles matches in Australia, beating Fixed Lestienne of France 6-3, 6-2 Tuesday within the first spherical of the Adelaide Worldwide.
It was the top-seeded Djokovic’s thirtieth straight singles victory on Australian soil in a streak that dates to 2018.
It was Djokovic’s first singles match of the season after dropping in doubles the day prior to this, and the win retains him heading in the right direction for a doable semifinal matchup in Adelaide in opposition to seventh-ranked Daniil Medvedev, who earlier beat Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 7-6 (6), 2-1 when Sonego was pressured to retire with a proper arm harm.
Djokovic, whose final loss in Australia was within the fourth spherical of the 2018 Australian Open, will face both Jordan Thompson of Australia or Quentin Halys of France for a spot within the quarterfinals.
He was once more warmly acquired by the group in Adelaide, the place he gained this event on the age of 19.
Djokovic is taking part in in Australia for the primary time since 2021, having missed final 12 months’s Australian Open when he was deported as a result of his unvaccinated standing breached the nation’s vaccination requirement for inbound vacationers. His rating has dropped to No. 5 after additionally being pressured to overlook different tournaments, together with the US Open, final 12 months.
“What you deal with, you turn into. If I deal with the negatives, that is what I am going to appeal to, so I do not wish to try this. I do not maintain a grudge,” Djokovic stated when requested about his return to Australia. “I’m right here to play tennis, to get pleasure from sports activities and unfold good power. To see the packed home for my first match was undoubtedly a really nice shock, and many help, a number of love.”
Djokovic’s arrival in Australia was a lot smoother this time round in contrast with final 12 months.
“Properly, I form of was joking round with my workforce hoping that I can enter Australia this time, and that is what occurred,” he stated. “It was actually, I might say, regular. As with every different 12 months coming into Australia besides the final 12 months, simple via the passport management, landed effectively.”
Earlier, Medvedev saved 9 set factors earlier than taking the primary set in a tiebreaker in opposition to the Forty fifth-ranked Sonego.
“I did not understand it was 9 [set points],” Medvedev stated. “That is truly loopy. In all probability, perhaps the primary time in my life I’ve saved 9 set factors.
“What a match to begin the 12 months,” he added.
Sonego was taking part in Medvedev for the primary time and infrequently appeared to have the higher hand within the first set. He had six set factors on Medvedev’s serve at 5-4 however Medvedev was capable of depend on his huge serve when he needed to, saving all six.
Two video games later, Sonego had three extra set factors at 0-40 on Medvedev’s however Medvedev rallied once more, finally taking the set after 80 minutes.
“To be trustworthy 0-40 was a tricky second,” he stated. “I did not depend however I knew I saved a variety of set factors.
Medvedev will meet Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic for a quarterfinal place.