Novak Djokovic survives another bar-room brawl

Novak Djokovic broke Roger Federer’s record for the most match victories at majors. Still winning like a robot. Carlos Alcaraz was untouchable in his second-round triumph before writing, ‘Am I A Serve Bot?’

Novak Djokovic takes the win after his four-set battle with Portuguese unknown Jaime Faria in the Australian Open second round at Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Getty Images

Novak Djokovic thrashed Paolo Lorenzi in the opening round of the 2012 US Open. I grabbed Lorenzi for an interview. What’s it like to be mauled 6-1 6-0 6-1, you dear thing? Is the bloke unbeatable? “Make it quick,” Lorenzi said at Flushing Meadows. “I have to get to the airport.”

Come again? When’s your flight? It was in a few hours. He admitted to booking it before playing Djokovic. For he knew he’d lose. Back then, everybody did in the early rounds.

Now, gung-ho young gentlemen reckon they have a fighter’s chance. Put it this way. Portugal’s Jaime Faria wasn’t making pessimistic, pre-emptive travel arrangements when Djokovic’s exalted name popped up in his draw at the Australian Open.

Djokovic appears vulnerable. Which makes him dangerous and combative. He doesn’t mind a bar-room brawl and slogged his way past Faria 6-1 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 6-2 to overtake Roger Federer for the most match wins at the majors.

His first triumph at this level was against American Robbie Ginepri at Roland Garros in 2005. He secured his 430th when he ducked, weaved and threw enough uppercuts to pinch victory from the 21-year-old qualifier Faria on Rod Laver Arena.

Djoker is the thief. “I love this court, I love competition,“ he said. ”I try to give my best every single time. It’s been over 20 years that I’ve been competing in grand slams and whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I’m blessed to be making another record. He was playing lights-out tennis … he’s a young guy … and I told him at the net the future is bright for him.”

Men’s tennis is being bombarded by towering twenty-something fellows who play daring and dauntless tennis. “In the wise words of Mr Daniil Medvedev, if the future generation plays this way, they are going to have everything – money, girls, casinos,” Djokovic joked ahead of his third-round clash against 24-year-old Czech Tomas Machac.

Carlos Alcaraz stretches to serve against Yoshihito Nishioka. Picture: Getty Images

Djokovic played on Rod Laver Arena while Spain’s 21-year-old excitement machine Carlos Alcaraz, a prime candidate for money, girls, and casinos if he was so inclined, which he isn’t, cartwheeled to a 6-0 6-1 6-4 demolition of Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka out at Margaret Court Arena.

You’d reckon there was a case for Alcaraz getting a hit on RLA, but he prefers the day session and when Djokovic requested the same … the Serb received top billing.

“I don’t like to play night sessions,” Alcaraz said. “I prefer to play the day. After the match I can recover much better. I can go to sleep at a good time.

“It’s not too late for me, so I prefer to play a day session and if I have to play on Margaret Court, which is a really beautiful and great court, I’m going to do it. Obviously centre court at the grand slams – here in Australia the Rod Laver Arena is one of the courts that you want to play on.”

Alcaraz was at his vigorous, sprightly, energetic best. You’d get less bounce off a trampoline. You wouldn’t have blamed Nishioka if he was checking out flights a couple of hours before their predictably lopsided contest. Most striking was Alcaraz’s serving. He won 81 per cent of points on his first delivery. Didn’t face a break point. He wrote on a TV camera, “Am I A Serve Bot?”