The Serbian, current number 5 in the ATP ranking, has a double objective at Melbourne Park: to match the record for all-time Grand Slam titles held by Spanish Rafael Nadal (22), who is already eliminated, and exit the tournament as No. 1 in the world, something he will automatically achieve if he lifts the trophy.
Djokovic, who was deported a year ago and could not play in Australia for not being vaccinated against the coronavirus, will next face the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (29), who beat the Serbian Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-2 and 6 -0.
For his part, after playing the longest game of his life (it lasted 5 hours and 45 minutes), the Scotsman andy murray -former No. 1 in the world, 35 years old and two hip operations- defeated local Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3 and 7-5.
Murray’s next rival (currently 66th in the ranking) will be the Spanish Roberto Bautista Agut (25), who also eliminated the American Brandon Holt in five sets: 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and 6- 2 in 2h56m.
In addition to Nadal, who was defending the title and was left out in the second round (on top of that he suffered a tear that will take him away from the courts for at least six weeks), another top tennis player said goodbye to the Australian Open today, the Norwegian Casper Ruud (3), after losing to the American Jenson Brooksby (48) 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4) and 6-2 in three hours and 55 minutes of play.
The German Alexander Zverev (13) could not go to the third wheel either, since he fell against the American Michael Mmoh (109 and who entered the draw as a “lucky loser”) by 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3 and 6- 2.
In the women’s draw, today’s surprise was the elimination of the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (number 2 in the world and finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2021) against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (78) 6-1, 5-7 and 6-1.
the french Caroline Garcia (4) defeated the Canadian Leylah Fernandez (39) 7-6 (5) and 7-5, while the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (5) had no problems against the American Shelby Rogers (53) by 6-3 and 6-1. Both advanced to the third round as did the Polish Iga Swiatek, number one in the WTA ranking and top seed.
Australian Open – Third Round
– MENS:
Andrey Rublev (RUS/N.5) defeated Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3
Daniel Evans (GBR/N.25) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-1
Ugo Humbert (FRA) def. Denis Kudla (USA) 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4
Holger Rune (DEN/N.9) def. Maxime Cressy (USA) 7-5, 6-4, 6-4
Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) to Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP/N.14) 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 7-6 (10/4)
Alex De Minaur (AUS/N.22) def. Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL/N.27) def. Laslo Djere (SRB) 6-3, 6-2, 6-0
Novak Djokovic (SRB/N.4) def. Enzo Couacaud (FRA) 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-0
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) def. Taylor Fritz (USA/N.8) 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2
Ben Shelton (USA) def. Nicolas Jarry (CHI) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5
Jeffrey Wolf (USA) def. Diego Schwartzman (ARG/N.23) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Michael Mmoh (USA) def. Alexander Zverev (GER/N.12) 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
Andy Murray (SCO) def. Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 7-5
Roberto Bautista (ESP/N.24) vs. Brandon Holt (USA) 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Tommy Paul (USA) d. Alejandro Davidovich (ESP/N.30) 6-2, 2-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-4
Jenson Brooksby (USA) def. Casper Ruud (NOR/N.2) 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2
– WOMEN:
Varvara Gracheva (RUS) defeated Lucrezia Stefanini (ITA) 6-3, 6-1
Karolína Plísková (CZE/N.30) def. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-0, 7-5
Shuai Zhang (CHN/N.23) def. Petra Martic (CRO) 6-3, 6-3
Katie Volynets (USA) def. Veronika Kudermetova (RUS/N.9) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
Magda Linette (POL) def. Anett Kontaveit (EST/N.16) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS/N.19) def. Taylor Townsend (USA) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
Laura Siegemund (GER) def. Irina-Camelia Begu (RUM/N.27) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
Caroline Garcia (FRA/N.4) def. Leylah Fernandez (CAN) 7-6 (7/5), 7-5
Aryna Sabalenka (BLR/N.5) def. Shelby Rogers (USA) 6-3, 6-1
Elise Mertens (BEL/N.26) def. Lauren Davis (USA) 6-4, 6-3
Camila Giorgi (ITA) def. Anna Karolína Schmiedlová (SVK) 6-4, 6-3
Belinda Bencic (SUI/N.12) def. Claire Liu (USA) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3
Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) def. Anastasia Potapova (RUS) 6-3, 6-2
Donna Vekic (CRO) def. Liudmila Samsonova (RUS/N.18) 6-3, 6-0
Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) def. Kimberly Birrell (AUS) 6-3, 6-2
Markéta Vondrousová (CZE) def. Ons Jabeur (TUN/N.2) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
