Novak Djokovic maintained his winning streak in singles matches in Australiadefeated Frenchman Constant Lestienne 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday in the first round of the Adelaide International.
It was Djokovic’s 30th consecutive singles victory on Australian soil, in a streak that stretches back to 2018. Tuesday’s victory was Djokovic’s first in singles this season and keeps him in track for the semi-final match in Adelaide with the Third seed Daniil Medvedev, who earlier defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (6), 2-1 when the Italian was forced to withdraw with a right arm injury.
Djokovic’s match was close at first, but he took control after breaking Lestienne’s serve to take a 4-2 lead in the first set.. He won the first four games of the second set, taking the match on his first match point.
Djokovic, whose last loss in Australia came in the fourth round of the 2018 Australian Open, Will face French Quentin Halys in the round of 16who beat Australian Jordan Thompson 6-3, 6-4.
He was again welcomed by the public in Adelaide, where he won this tournament at the age of only 19.. Djokovic, who was deported last year because his unvaccinated status violated Australia’s vaccination requirement for travelers arriving in the country, is playing in Australia for the first time since 2021.
Earlier, Medvedev saved nine set points before taking the first set in a tiebreaker against 45th-ranked Sonego. “I didn’t know it was nine (set points). it’s crazy. Probably, maybe this is the first time in my life that I have accumulated nine set points. What a game to start the year” said the Russian.
Sonego was facing Medvedev for the first time and often seemed to have the upper hand in the first set. He had six set points on Medvedev’s serve at 5-4but Medvedev was able to rely on his big serve when he needed to, saving all six.
Two games later, Sonego held another three set points at 0-40 on Medvedev’s serve, but Medvedev rallied again to take the set after 80 minutes. “Honestly, 0-40 is hard. I didn’t count, but I know I saved a lot of set points.said.
Medvedev will face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic for a place in the quarterfinals.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
