Novak Djokovic

2023 - 1 - 17

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Novak Djokovic crushes Carballés Baena on joyous Australian ... (The Guardian)

On his return to competition at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic sailed into round two with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 win over Roberto Carballés Baena.

“That’s probably one of the reasons I’ve been fortunate to win a lot of matches on this court, particularly in the night sessions. Holger Rune, the ninth seed, moved into the second round with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over Filip Krajinovic. “The more you win on a certain court, the more comfortable and confident you feel every next time you step on it,” he said. “Definitely this court is the most special court in my life and I couldn’t ask for a better start in the tournament.” After establishing a two-set lead, Djokovic picked apart his opponent in the third. [his deportation last year](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/17/novak-djokovic-deported-for-trying-to-breach-australias-border-rules-scott-morrison-says), Novak Djokovic moved into the second round with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 win over Spain’s Roberto Carballés Baena in just over two hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Novak Djokovic feels the love on Australian Open return as he ... (ABC News)

After the COVID vaccination and deportation mess of 2022, Novak Djokovic could be forgiven for being a bit wary ahead of his Australian Open return in 2023, ...

the last time they were here, the only time they were, was in 2008. I know how to behave, I know how to handle it. "I'm really glad to have them here …

Desperate Novak Djokovic goes rogue to go to the toilet against ... (7NEWS.com.au)

The Serbian superstar 'pulled rank' over the official when he suddenly realised he had to leave the court.

“So it took me a little bit of time to really get into the match and start moving more freely. “I was kind of testing my leg a little bit. “I didn’t give him too much of a chance to breathe from back of the court and I served very well. “So much support. “I’m very, very pleased with the way I played in the third set,” he said. “I really feel very happy that I’m back in Australia and I’m back on the court where I had the biggest success in my career. The great sign was that the longer the match went, the better I felt, the better I moved. So much love. I mean, I could not ask for a better start of the tournament in terms of support, in terms of how I felt on the court,” he said. “I think the official was trying to pull him back.” “He needs to go to the toilet? Djokovic tried to tell the chair umpire that “I’m going to the toilet” when the players changed ends at 3-2, but she didn’t seem to hear him.

Time to end the farcical myths built up around Novak Djokovic (Tennis365)

Novak Djokovic cemented his status as the firm favorite for this year's Australian Open title with a convincing win in his opening match on Monday – and now ...

[Australian Open](https://www.tennis365.com/category/australian-open/) I couldn’t ask for a better start to the tournament.” [News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/news/)

Djokovic's injury prognosis clear amid concern (Wide World of Sports)

The Serbian demolished Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in straight sets – 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 – to cruise through to the second round. Fans who packed out Rod Laver ...

Remember when he was feeling very poorly against (Dominic) Theim in the final of AO in 2020 as well. They're the two choices you have, and I think most people would take Novak." "I think we're all, in tennis, super happy. Let's not forget when he tore the ab(dominal muscle) against Taylor Fritz in 2021. "Will it be around when the tougher tests come? For the time being, everything looked pretty good out there." So the reality is, there definitely is an issue with Novak's hamstring, but it's clearly not something that he can't manage at the moment. "I said (on Tuesday) on commentary; would you take Novak or would you take the other 127 players to win the title? "There are very few players that compete like Novak, and I thought he maybe peaked too early in the tournament, but boy was it a joy to watch." "There were a couple of times in the match, to be honest, that he kind of stretched for a ball or a couple of drop shots where he kind of shook his leg out afterwards," said Petchey. [Display of Russia flag at Australian Open condemned by Ukraine](https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/australian-open-2023-display-of-russia-flag-condemned-by-ukraine/7379a123-2b52-41d8-837f-3015fbef0161) [Djokovic has been nursing a hamstring injury](https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/australian-open-2023-novak-djokovic-injury-raises-concerns/748e6522-7648-4a32-8f09-f7101d6d4074) and fears he might pull the pin on the Australian Open were heightened when he cancelled a practice session. [Australian Open](https://wwos.nine.com.au/australian-open) organisers will be able to breathe a sigh of relief after [Novak Djokovic's](https://wwos.nine.com.au/novak-djokovic) dominant first round display under an injury cloud.

Novak Djokovic stunned by crowd act in return to Australian Open (Yahoo Sport Australia)

Novak Djokovic played his first official match back at Rod Laver Arena after the deportation saga of last year. Find out what happened here.

Who will survive the 'graveyard' of the men's singles draw? (The Age)

Djokovic, Rublev, Rune, Dimitrov, de Minaur. Those are just a few of the stars lurking in the “graveyard” that is the third quarter of the men's singles ...

In only one quarter of the draw. At the very bottom of the graveyard, in position 96, is the nine-time champion and tournament favourite, Novak Djokovic. Especially given, and it’s not overstating it, that there is a nagging question mark on Djokovic to be the last man standing. See you at the Open. I wonder if it was actually a little too impressive, as he threw caution to the wind and was not really willing to engage in long rallies, something a little out of character for the nine-time champion of this tournament. Top 10 is ultimately the goal.” Rune had a phenomenal 2022, winning three titles, including the prestigious Paris 1000, defeating Djokovic in the final. In Australian rules football, the third term is known as the “premiership quarter”. Now, a closer look at the third quarter graveyard. In golf, the third round is referred to as “moving day”. We now know why he didn’t commit to any competitive matches in the last two weeks – he has been battling a knee ailment. Survive it and you can go the whole way.

Djokovic defeats Carballes Baena in commanding straight sets win (The Age)

When Novak Djokovic finally walked onto Rod Laver Arena again he was no longer the anti-vax villain of last year. He was just the returning nine-time ...

He was made to stretch for a ball at the net and pulled up slightly short and hopped quickly, favouring his leg, after losing the point. He’d have beaten a lot of other players the way he played. In the second set there was a moment that betrayed some discomfort in the leg. “I was also kind of testing my leg a little bit [in the first two sets]. Maybe by that time he’d started to fatigue a little and he felt a twinge. In truth, this was a crowd of die-hard fans who would probably have welcomed him in this way last year had he been approved to play. “I was really, really hoping that things will be well on the court from the first to the last point, which was the case. Haven’t had too much training in the last few days, to be honest with you, tennis-wise,” he said. “The leg is good. He was greeted with a gushing reception. To that end, he walked on court with his upper left leg heavily strapped. The fans had come to see him.

Novak Djokovic

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