Top tennis participant Novak Djokovic continued his exceptional streak of success in singles in Australia, cruising to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Constant Lestienne of France within the opening spherical of the Adelaide International on Tuesday.
It was Djokovic’s thirtieth straight singles victory on Australian soil in a streak that goes again to 2018.
Tuesday’s win was Djokovic’s first in singles this season and retains him heading in the right direction for a semifinal match in Adelaide with seventh-ranked Daniil Medvedev, the third seed, who earlier beat Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 7-6 (6), 2-1 when Sonego was pressured to retire with a proper arm damage.
Djokovic’s match was shut at first however he took management after breaking Lestienne to go up 4-2 within the first set. He received the primary 4 video games of the second set and took the match on his first match level.
Djokovic, whose final loss in Australia was within the fourth spherical of the 2018 Australian Open, will face both Jordan Thompson of Australia or Quentin Halys of France for a spot within the quarterfinals.
He was once more warmly acquired by the gang in Adelaide the place he received this match at solely 19.
Djokovic is enjoying in Australia for the primary time since 2021. He has received the match 9 occasions. He was deported final 12 months as a result of his unvaccinated standing breached the Australian vaccination requirement for inbound vacationers.
Earlier, Medvedev saved 9 set factors earlier than taking the primary set in a tiebreaker in opposition to the Forty fifth-ranked Sonego.
“I didn’t know it was nine (set points),” Medvedev said. “That’s truly loopy. Probably, possibly the primary time in my life I’ve saved 9 set factors.
“What a match to start the year,” he added.
Sonego was enjoying Medvedev for the primary time and sometimes appeared to have the higher hand within the first set. He had six set factors on Medvedev’s serve at 5-4 however Medvedev was capable of depend on his large serve when he needed to, saving all six.
Two video games later, Sonego had three extra set factors at 0-40 on Medvedev’s however Medvedev rallied once more, finally taking the set after 80 minutes.
“To be honest 0-40 was a tough moment,” he said. “I didn’t rely however I knew I saved numerous set factors.
Medvedev will meet Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic for a quarterfinal place.
