Australian Open: Djokovic Escapes Danger, Wins 30th Straight In Melbourne

Novak Djokovic, Australian Open
Novak Djokovic (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, January 17, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, a 10-time champion of the Australian Open and favored to win a record-extending 11th crown this year, showed Tuesday night before a large audience on Rod Laver Arena why he has an uncanny ability to pull victories from the jaws of defeat. Even when he’s not at his best – and still trying to find his form – he finds a way to win.

After being kept on court for more than four hours during his opening-round victory over Croatia’s Dino Prizmic Sunday evening, Djokovic held off the charge of Australia’s Alexei Popyrin to win, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3, and advance against Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina. The three-hour, 11-minute win was the top seed Djokovic’s 30th straight triumph at the Happy Slam and it lifted him into the third round for the 16th time.

While Djokovic had won all three of his previous meetings against Australian players in Melbourne – twice against former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt and once against current World No.10 Alex de Minaur – he garnered an easy victory in his only previous meeting with Popyrin, in Tokyo back in 2019. This time, though, Popyrin was ready for the Serbian.

At a set a piece, it took Djokovic saving four set points, from 0-40 at 4-5 in the third set, to turn things around against the upstart 43rd-ranked Popyrin, who was looking to reach the third round in Melbourne for the fourth time and equal his best result at a major.

Instead, the 36-year-old Djokovic raised the level of his game and his experience rewarded him by the end – just as it has so many times before.

“He had quite an easy forehand and he missed it,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview with Hall of Famer Jim Courier, describing his Houdini-like escape at the end of the third set. “I didn’t do anything special, and I was lucky on that point, on that game, to get away. He was the better player I think for a set and a half. In the second set and third set he was the better player.

“Things changed around, and the momentum shifted in the tie-break. I managed to put the ball more in the court than he did. I don’t think I played at the highest level. In some instances, yes, but also credit to him for tactically coming up with the right game plan and serving big. He deserves a big round of applause.”

By the end, Djokovic had struck 31 winners, including 11 aces, won 82 percent of his first-serve points, and outpointed Popyrin 124-106. Although the young Aussie slammed 17 aces and struck 58 winners overall, he also committed 58 unforced errors. It was Djokovic’s 77th career win on Rod Laver Arena, tying him with Serena Williams.

Djokovic was asked if he would be able to raise his level against the No. 30 seed Etcheverry, who eliminated France’s Gaël Monfils, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, following up his first-round win against Andy Murray of Great Britain. “I sincerely hope so,” he said. “That’s what it’s going to take for me to go deep in the tournament. I haven’t been playing my best, I’m still trying to find my form. 

“Particularly in the early rounds, you play players that have nothing to lose really. They come out on the centre court and try to play their best match, their best tennis, and I think both my first and second-round opponents were great quality tennis players. I managed to find a way to win in four. That’s what counts in the end, and hopefully I’ll be able to build as this tournament progresses.”

Gauff remains perfect in new season with 7-0 start

World No. 4 Coco Gauff of the United States has lost just one set to begin her 2024 season. After defeating fellow American Caroline Dolehide, 7-6 (2), 6-2, on Wednesday, she’s a perfect 7-0 and through to the third round in Melbourne. She hit 20 winners during the one-hour, 44-minute match on Margaret Court Arena.

“Not my best tennis, but, you know, a lot of improvement to look at for the next matches,” Gauff said in her post-match news conference.

At 19, the reigning US Open champion Gauff is the first American teenager to win nine or more straight Grand Slam main draw matches in the Open Era, following Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Monica Seles and Serena Williams. The first three are all Hall of Famers and Williams will join them once she’s eligible for induction. So, Gauff is among some pretty esteemed company.

Next, Gauff will face another American, No. 82 Alycia Parks, in the third round. On Wednesday, Parks took out No. 32 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada, 7-5, 6-4, to reach the third round of a major for the first time.

Gauff’s quarter of the women’s draw hold plenty of intrigue. It includes No. 69 Magdalena Frech of Poland, a surprise 6-4, 7-6 (2) upset winner over No. 16 seed Caroline Garcia of France.

Also, No. 10 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil, who eliminated 2023 AO junior girls’ champ Alina Korneeva of Russia, 6-1, 6-2; and No. 74 Elina Avanesyan of Russia, 21, who was last off Margaret Court Arena early Thursday after earning her first Top 10 triumph with a 6-4, 6-4 upset of No. 8 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece. The victory earned Avanesyan a third-round match with Ukraine’s 37th-ranked Marta Kostyuk, who saved a match point en route to her 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (6) upset of No. 25 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium.

Around Melbourne Park

By the numbers

Despite a four-hour rain delay on the outer courts to start Day Four on Wednesday, the Australian Open enjoyed a record-setting attendance for its first Wednesday Night session with 35,002 fans, breaking last year’s mark of 31,100. Overall attendance was 73,134, which included 38,132 spectators during the day.

“Quotable…”

“For sure I can improve. Today I played quite well — I played well today. I felt good on the court. I was very calm and stable throughout the whole match.

“You know, we have to see how I go when the match is closer, when the sets are closer, trying to see how I react. But, you know, everything together I felt or I feel good, no, to be back in competition. This is what I work for, to be on court, trying to compete.

“Today it seemed more easier than it was, because he played well throughout the whole tournament. I wish him all the best. He’s a very nice person, a nice man, and hopefully we can see him many more times making some good draws the whole year.”

– World No. 4 seed Jannik Sinner of Italy, who was asked during his post-match news conference Wednesday if there’s anything he could improve upon after winning his first two AO matches, against Dutchmen Botic van de Zandschulp and Jesper de Jong, without dropping a set. The No. 4 seed Sinner, a 6-2,6-2, 6-2 winner over the 161st-ranked de Jong, will face No. 26 seed Sebastian Baez of Argentina in the third round.

 

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