Novak Djokovic opened his quest for an eleventh Australian Open title and record-breaking twenty fifth Grand Slam with a formidable first-round show in Melbourne on Monday.
The fourth seed brushed apart Spain’s Pedro Martinez with a damaging 6-3 6-2 6-2 efficiency on Rod Laver Area as he recorded a milestone a hundredth win on the Grand Slam.
Djokovic misplaced simply three factors on his first serve in your complete match as he placed on a service clinic.
“It’s great to be back. This is definitely my favourite court, one that has given me so much,” mentioned the Serbian, who will play Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli within the second spherical.
“I try to give it back as much as I could over the last 20-plus years and hopefully you guys enjoyed the tennis tonight.”
On his a hundredth win on the Australian Open, Djokovic mentioned: “What can I say? I just like the sound of it. To be a centurion is a fairly good feeling.
“I at all times give my greatest at any time when I am on the courtroom. Historical past making is a superb motivation – and notably within the final 5, 10 years of my profession.
“I’m blessed to still be playing at this level and claiming another win tonight is obviously a dream come true.”
Simply by taking to the courtroom, Djokovic equalled Roger Federer’s all-time males’s data along with his twenty first look in Melbourne and 81st at a Grand Slam general, with the latter additionally being shared by Spain’s Feliciano Lopez.
It’s 20 years since Djokovic final misplaced within the opening spherical at a significant and that run was by no means in peril right here as he eased previous 71st-ranked Martinez.
Djokovic, who was supported by former Spain and present Melbourne Victory midfielder Juan Mata, had not performed a match since November 9, whereas he has had some bother negotiating early rounds at slams in recent times, however this was a clear and commanding efficiency.
Daniil Medvedev overcame the Melbourne warmth and serving points to beat Jesper de Jong 7-5 6-2 7-6 (7-2) within the first spherical.
The eleventh seed, contemporary off a title win in Brisbane, got here out on high after a topsy-turvy opening set that featured 5 breaks of function each gamers struggled with their supply on Margaret Court docket Area.
“The conditions felt slow, so we were both breaking each other’s serve a lot,” mentioned Medvedev, who has completed runner-up 3 times at Melbourne Park.
“It is warm, but I felt okay and I think then he was probably struggling a tiny bit more than me. Hopefully it doesn’t get worse than what we felt here. For sure, a bit of an ice bath never feels bad after such a warm match.”
Medvedev, who performs Frenchman Quentin Halys within the second spherical, added: “When I play good I am actually aggressive and when I play bad, I become a bit more defensive,” Medvedev mentioned.
“He was also far behind the baseline. Many times I managed to move him around and even finish at the net. Some moments I could have maybe been a bit more clinical.
“First spherical is by no means simple, so hopefully I could be extra scientific within the subsequent rounds.”
Wawrinka and Cilic flip again the clock
Marin Cilic, the towering 37-year-old, gained the opening 12 video games with minimal fuss to spark chatter of a uncommon Grand Slam foremost draw ‘triple bagel’
Former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka turned the clock again to come from a set down and beat unseeded Serb Laslo Djere 5-7 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4), whereas Marin Cilic additionally flew the flag for the veterans with a extra ruthless efficiency.
The 40-year-old Wawrinka, who claimed his three Grand Slam titles through the golden period of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, is making his remaining Melbourne Park look as a wildcard after asserting that 2026 could be his final season on tour.
“It’s been a long journey, it’s been amazing with so many memories here. It’s been incredible. The only reason I come back is because of the love you [fans] give me,” mentioned an emotional Wawrinka.
“It’s my last year. The passion is still intact but I’m not young any more. Today was amazing, it’s so special for me to enter the court and a Grand Slam. It’s the reason I practise hard with my team every off-season and every day – to have a chance to compete with the best players in the world.”
Former Australian Open finalist Cilic seemed in prime type as he beat Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 6-0 6-0 7-6 (7-3) earlier.
The towering 37-year-old gained the opening 12 video games with minimal fuss to spark chatter of a uncommon Grand Slam foremost draw ‘triple bagel’, which has been achieved by solely 5 gamers within the skilled period, the final being Sergi Bruguera within the 1993 French Open.
A ‘triple bagel’ is successful a match in three units with out dropping a sport.
FAA makes early Australian Open exit resulting from cramp
Jacob Fearnley was overwhelmed by Pole Kamil Majchrzak
Felix Auger-Aliassime was left scratching his head after his hopes had been ended by cramp within the first spherical.
The Canadian is the primary top-10 seed to fall at Melbourne Park, and he didn’t even make it to the tip of his conflict with Portugal’s Nuno Borges, calling it quits whereas trailing 3-6 6-4 6-4.
Auger-Aliassime was strongly fancied for a superb run at Melbourne Park having reached the semi-finals of the US Open amid a superb second half of final season.
“I don’t have all the answers now,” mentioned the seventh seed. “I’m trying to be very professional at everything I do.
“Clearly it hurts much more as a result of if I used to be self-aware and I used to be like, ‘effectively, I wasn’t actually prepared,’ or I wasn’t doing all the pieces, then you need to be sincere with your self.
“But, even with being honest with myself, I’m not totally finding the reasons why this is happening. I can’t recall ever in my life this [happening this] early in a tournament, this early in a match.”
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Felix Auger-Aliassime surprised Alexander Zverev on the US Open with a masterclass
Auger-Aliassime was clearly struggling along with his left thigh and, after calling the coach, he performed simply two factors of the fourth set earlier than shaking arms.
“I want to be on the court winning,” he mentioned of his resolution. “I want to be on the court competing with my opponent. I don’t want to be just standing there like a punching bag.”
Fearnley loses out in a good contest
Jacob Fearnley was overwhelmed by Pole Kamil Majchrzak
Britain’s Jacob Fearnley exited within the first spherical as his tough begin to the season continued.
The Scot, who reached the third spherical on his debut final 12 months, was overwhelmed 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) by Pole Kamil Majchrzak.
Fearnley was not helped by a heavy fall within the fifth sport of the fourth set when he was a break up, after which Majchrzak instantly hit again.
“I slipped, ankle twisted and then hip, ankle, knee went into the floor – hip I think is just a bruise but the ankle’s pretty sore right now,” mentioned Fearnley. “I’m hoping that it’s nothing [serious].”
Having rocketed into the world’s high 50 inside a 12 months of leaving school, Fearnley is more likely to slip again to only inside the highest 100.
“I just need to be a little bit more confident, back myself a little more, just play better,” he added.
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