Djokovic storms into second round on Australian Open return | Tennis News

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic swept away Spain Roberto Carballes Baena to launch its bid for a 10th australian open title on Tuesday, with the Serb enjoying a warm welcome after being sent off a year ago.
The 35-year-old, who was banned from last year’s tournament, showed few signs of the hamstring pain he picked up in Adelaide this month as he raced to victory over the Rod Laver Arena 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
After not being able to play last year on his Covid vaccination stance, there were concerns about how he might be received by fans in Melbourne.
The city endured lengthy lockdowns at the height of the pandemic.
But, as in Adelaide, the fourth seed walked out to cheers and chants of “Nole”, with vocal support during the game from a stadium awash with Serbian flags.

“Thank you for giving me such a warm welcome that I could only dream of,” said Djokovic, who is aiming for a record 22nd major title.
“I’m really happy to be back here in Australia and on the ground where I had the greatest success of my career.
“This court is without a doubt the most special court of my life and I couldn’t ask for a better start to the tournament.”

He arrived at Melbourne Park in sizzling form having finished 2022 by winning another ATP Finals title and then triumphing at the Adelaide International.
As if that wasn’t intimidating enough for 75th-placed Carballes Baena Djokovic entered the clash having won his last 21 Australian Open matches.
He opened with an ace, but didn’t quite get it his way early on, needing to save three break points in game five.
But he quickly settled in and broke the next game to love for a 4-2 lead and closed the set.
His hamstring seemed to trouble him briefly when he slipped for a shot at 2-2 in the next set, but he continued and broke again for 4-3 when Carballes Baena scored a forehand.

Djokovic took it up a notch as the clock passed midnight in Melbourne and he was immediately broken in the third set, with the Spaniard running out of answers as the former world number one surged to victory.
“I’m very, very happy with the way I played in the third set. I didn’t give him too many chances to breathe from the back of the court,” he said.
“I served very well. The second set was up and down and I give him credit for fighting.”
In Djokovic’s absence last year, his longtime rival Rafael Nadal took the title to claim a 21st Grand Slam which he took to 22 at Roland Garros.
Djokovic won Wimbledon to take his run to 21 and he made no secret of wanting more.
Additional motivation comes from trying to become the third player in history to win at least 10 titles at a single Grand Slam.
Only Nadal, with 14 at Roland Garros, and Margaret Court, who won 11 singles titles at the Australian Open, have more.