Australian Open: Djokovic, Federer through to second round; Shapovalov knocked out
Novak Djokovic has joined Roger Federer in the second round, while Canadian Denis Shapovalov has angrily accused a chair umpire of making a “terrible call” following his shock first round loss. MEN’S WRAP
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Remarkably, this was already Novak Djokovic’s seventh competitive singles match of the year.
Anyone looking, or hoping, for a chink in the armour – physical or emotional fatigue maybe - of the seven time Australian Open champion will have been wasting their time.
Granted it was a relatively routine early round win over Jan-Lennard Struff but the German, ranked 37, is capable of testing most players. Only not Djokovic on Rod Laver Arena (RLA), especially Rod Laver Arena.
In fact, he even found a positive in his 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1 late night victory.
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“I like tough matches (early in a major), historically I have had a lot of success where I have had tough opponents in the first round,” Djokovic said.
A heavy serving performance of 14 aces and just three double faults saw him home, his serve has long been an underestimated weapon he said because of the understandable focus on his return game.
He was statesmanlike with the press post-match, thanking them for staying past midnight to hear him speak, with also a wider compliment for the public.
“I always enjoy coming to the land of tennis,” he said in reference to Australia.
It was never a walkover, the Serbian tends to gather momentum over two weeks rather than dash away from the starting line. Saving his best until last has become habit as Rafael Nadal will testify in the context of last year’s final here.
Struff meanwhile has had a mixed start to the year, some success at the ATP Cup (beating teenage sensation Felix Auger-Aliassime) and some less so, his last outing on Tuesday last week in Adelaide saw him fall, on a tiny outside court, to South Australia’s Alex Bolt, ranked more than 100 places below him.
Here, he had rather grander surroundings with a mostly full RLA and upped his game substantially, the first set lost on a tie-break with his serve a hit and miss affair in general, double faults haunting him throughout
Djokovic meanwhile arrived for a match that was unusual for him in that even before the Australian Open he has played a match he might find difficult to better all year, the ATP Cup final against Rafael Nadal. But it had not tired him he said, not at all.
Stuff upped the ante in the third set, not missing much at all as Djokovic noted, clinching the set 6-2 but the Serb always felt in control if he played to the right level he said and so it proved.
SHAPOVALOV BLASTS UMPIRE OVER CALL
Canadian Denis Shapovalov has angrily accused a chair umpire of making a “terrible call” after becoming the first big casualty at the Australian Open.
The world No.13 seed was ousted by Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in four sets, despite heading into the first-round clash as an unbackable $1.15 favourite with TAB.
In the third set he received a code violation for racquet abuse, which led to a heated on-court row with French umpire Renaud Lichtenstein.
He was coded for repeatedly throwing his racquet, despite the fact that it was not damaged and he played on with it.
“I think that was a terrible call from the ref,” Shapovalov said after his defeat.
“The rule from what I know is if I break my racquet you can code me, but you can’t code me for slamming it.
“I’m not doing anything, it didn’t impact anyone.
“The racquet was still intact, so he gave me a warning because I did it two or three times and I think that’s not the way it works.”
The Canadian said it was not fair he would receive a fine and there would be no repercussions for the umpire.
“I think it’s horrible, I’m going to get fined for whatever the code was and he gets off the hook because he just makes a call because he feels like it,” he said.
“I threw my racquet, but so what?”
Shapovalov admitted he struggled with nerves in his shock defeat.
“I think I played really nervous today,” he said.
“I was in really good shape going into the tournament, but I just played really tight today.”
Fucsovics described the Australian Open as his “favourite grand slam” after winning through to the second round.
The Hungarian made the fourth round two years ago.
“I played some of my best tennis today,” he said
“I was aggressive when I needed to be here and hit the ball well.”
Meanwhile, Borna Coric became the first seeded player to be knocked out, losing in straight sets to American Sam Querrey.
FEDERER SILENCES CRITICS IN CLINICAL DISPLAY
It took Roger Federer barely 60 seconds.
Heralding a sublime serving performance – and a 6-3 6-2 6-2 first-round win over American Steve Johnson – the Swiss sorcerer surged through the opening game.
As a statement, it was double-edged, deflating Johnson and rebuffing doubters.
There was none of the forecast rust.
The first game became the template for an 81-minute rout – unforced error from Johnson, a Federer ace and two unreturnable missiles.
The dye was cast early, ridiculing theories Federer would be vulnerable without contesting either the ATP Cup or an official lead-up tournament.
With only the benefit of an exhibition in China against Alexander Zverev to build form and confidence, six-time champion Federer again proved why he a legitimate contender.
The numbers around his grooved serve were instructive – 11 aces and winning percentages of more than 80 on both first and second deliveries.
It was death, for Johnson, by suffocation. Federer gave nothing as battle-hardened Johnson was demolished by the sport’s silkiest assassin.
At 38, Federer is supposedly in descent.
But, if preparation is a measure, the most decorated male in tennis remains as fervent as ever.
“I trained really hard like I always do,” he said.
“I’m just so happy that I didn’t have any setbacks and that sets you up really nicely for the season.
“Regardless of how it goes here, you just know you have that block in you. In practice I felt good, and I’m happy it showed on the court as well.”
Contesting a record 21st consecutive Australian Open, Federer is participating in a record 79th major.
For all his longevity, the right-hander is concentrating on simplicity.
“Look, I just haven’t played proper matches in many, many weeks, and a lot of guys, probably 95 per cent of the guys are coming here with matches,” he said.
“So I’m not one of those guys. Now I have one (match). Best of five, too, which is even better.
“So I think for me really the first three rounds are key to get going, to get used to the pressure, stay calm, when to save breakpoint or 30-all points or whatever it may be or just to stay calm if you’re down a set and a break or whatever it might be.
“This is sort of the unknown that can be a little bit scary at times.
“But today there was none of that because I broke early each set and was able to get on a roll, play freely after that. And also felt I had margin.
“You know, anything I was doing I felt like I had the game under control.
“That might not be the case in the next round, so I just think I have to be careful. Round-by-round, point-for-point mentality.
“I know other guys that are playing extremely well right now so I think it’s just important to stay very calm about things right now.”
No-one in the field is calmer right now – with the possible exception of Novak Djokovic.
GREEK FREAK CRUISES INTO SECOND ROUND
- Richard Evans
Greek idol Stefanos Tsitsipas will not have an easier evening this week or next, flattening the little known Salvatore Caruso 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes on Margaret Court Arena (MCA).
“I came as close to perfection as possible. I tried to stay calm, be less aggressive on and off the court,” he said, presumably a nod to his recent ATP Cup bout against Nick Kyrgios when Tsitsipas accidentally whacked his own father in a fit of temper.
Impressive as it was, this first round win was very different to last January as the then 20-year-old surged to the Australian Open semi-final.
When he dispatched Roger Federer in the last 16 a year ago, Melbourne had the feel of a midsummer’s night on the Mediterranean, so heady and hyper was the vast Greek contingent that every square metre, seated or standing, was filled in front of the big TV screens in Melbourne Park.
This time it was a more subdued MCA, the monsoon like conditions outside dampening the atmosphere everywhere.
Inside the covered MCA, a vocal and persistent Greek cheer squad reminded us throughout that their man was in town.
Tsitsipas duly put his foot down and pressed, the first set done in 22 minutes, Caruso never approaching the net and never remotely a threat.
When, finally, the Italian held his serve at the start of the second set he celebrated as if he had just made it through to the second week of the Open.
Ranked 95, he won just six games in the first round of the Adelaide International last week and against the sixth seed here, the lack of form showed.
This was no test at all for Tsitsipas but he did what did admirably, the Roger Federer styled single handed backhand catching the eye but most of the damage was done by a relentless, pounding forehand.