9-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has loved an adoring reception and shrugged off his lingering hamstring damage to mark his hotly-anticipated Melbourne Park return with an aggressive straight-sets victory
Djokovic progressively cranked up the warmth in his 6-Three 6-Four 6-Zero first-round win over Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baenain in a late-night conflict at Rod Laver Area on Tuesday, regardless of at occasions showing bothered by his tight left hamstring.
The Serb had heavy strapping on his hamstring, which has troubled him for the reason that Adelaide Worldwide 2, and seemed proppy at occasions, whereas he was aggressive and appeared eager to get factors over shortly, ripping 41 winners.
Djokovic had admitted pre-tournament he was nervous about how he can be obtained in Melbourne in his first aggressive match since final 12 months.
However eyeing his 10th Melbourne Park crown, he needn’t have apprehensive in regards to the followers, who erupted when he entered Rod Laver Area.
“Unbelievable ambiance, thanks a lot for staying this late everybody and in addition thanks for giving me such a welcoming reception I might solely dream of,” he stated.
“I actually really feel very comfortable that I am again in Australia and I am again on the court docket the place I had the most important success in my profession.
“Positively this court docket is essentially the most particular in my life and I could not ask for a greater begin to the event. So thanks to your help, I recognize it.”
Djokovic needed to work his method by the opening two units, which he claimed in 42 and 56 minutes respectively, earlier than reeling by the third in simply 24 minutes.
“I am very, very happy with the way in which I performed within the third set,” he stated.
“I did not give him an excessive amount of of an opportunity to breathe from the again of the court docket and I served very properly.
“Second set was going up and down however credit score to him for combating.”
The fourth seed is again at his favored slam after final 12 months’s deportation saga, when he needed to depart Australia for not being vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, and is trying to attract stage with Rafael Nadal on 22 majors.
