Djokovic takes risks in easy opening win
Source: Agencies |
January 18, 2012, Wednesday
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NOVAK Djokovic was having an easy time of it in his first-round match at the Australian Open, so he decided to experiment by coming to the net.
Like pretty much anything he does on the tennis court these days, it was an unqualified success. He easily beat Paolo Lorenzi 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 yesterday to advance to the second round and continue his quest to join Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal by winning three straight grand slam singles titles.
"When you're 3- , 4-love up, why not try some other things, something that is not characteristic for your game," said Djokovic, who usually doesn't stray far from the baseline.
"But I am definitely working on my net game, approaching the short balls as much as I can, and take my chances."
He took them well, winning 21 of 26 points he attempted at the net.
Second-ranked Kvitova and No. 4 Maria Sharapova advanced. After surrendering her opening service game with a double-fault, Kvitova won 12 consecutive games in a 6-2, 6-0 win over Russia's Vera Dushevina.
Sharapova, a former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, won the first eight games of a 6-0, 6-1 win over Gisela Dulko of Argentina in her first match since returning from a left ankle injury.
The 2008 champion needed just 58 minutes for the win and the only game she lost was on her own serve.
Other women advancing included No. 7 Vera Zvonareva, No. 9 Marion Bartoli and former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic.
No. 14 Sabine Lisicki, No. 17 Dominika Cibulkova, No. 27 Maria Kirilenko, Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak, Shahar Peer of Israel and 2000 Wimbledon semifinalist Jelena Dokic also advanced.
Joining Djokovic in the second round of the men's draw is the player he beat last year in the final here, fourth-seeded Andy Murray, who had a first-set lapse before beating American Ryan Harrison 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Andy Roddick easily defeated Robin Haase of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to also move into the second round.
In night matches, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, beaten by Djokovic in the 2008 final at Melbourne Park, defeated Denis Istomin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Another former finalist, Lleyton Hewitt, gave the night session crowd at Rod Laver Arena something to cheer for when the Australian veteran beat Germany's Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, coming from 1-5 down in the fourth set.
No. 5-seeded David Ferrer advanced in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, over Rui Machado of Portugal. No. 17 Richard Gasquet, No. 23 Milos Raonic of Canada, No. 24 Kei Nishikori of Japan and No. 32 Alex Bogomolov Jr. of Russia also advanced.
Like pretty much anything he does on the tennis court these days, it was an unqualified success. He easily beat Paolo Lorenzi 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 yesterday to advance to the second round and continue his quest to join Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal by winning three straight grand slam singles titles.
"When you're 3- , 4-love up, why not try some other things, something that is not characteristic for your game," said Djokovic, who usually doesn't stray far from the baseline.
"But I am definitely working on my net game, approaching the short balls as much as I can, and take my chances."
He took them well, winning 21 of 26 points he attempted at the net.
Second-ranked Kvitova and No. 4 Maria Sharapova advanced. After surrendering her opening service game with a double-fault, Kvitova won 12 consecutive games in a 6-2, 6-0 win over Russia's Vera Dushevina.
Sharapova, a former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, won the first eight games of a 6-0, 6-1 win over Gisela Dulko of Argentina in her first match since returning from a left ankle injury.
The 2008 champion needed just 58 minutes for the win and the only game she lost was on her own serve.
Other women advancing included No. 7 Vera Zvonareva, No. 9 Marion Bartoli and former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic.
No. 14 Sabine Lisicki, No. 17 Dominika Cibulkova, No. 27 Maria Kirilenko, Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak, Shahar Peer of Israel and 2000 Wimbledon semifinalist Jelena Dokic also advanced.
Joining Djokovic in the second round of the men's draw is the player he beat last year in the final here, fourth-seeded Andy Murray, who had a first-set lapse before beating American Ryan Harrison 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Andy Roddick easily defeated Robin Haase of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to also move into the second round.
In night matches, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, beaten by Djokovic in the 2008 final at Melbourne Park, defeated Denis Istomin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Another former finalist, Lleyton Hewitt, gave the night session crowd at Rod Laver Arena something to cheer for when the Australian veteran beat Germany's Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, coming from 1-5 down in the fourth set.
No. 5-seeded David Ferrer advanced in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, over Rui Machado of Portugal. No. 17 Richard Gasquet, No. 23 Milos Raonic of Canada, No. 24 Kei Nishikori of Japan and No. 32 Alex Bogomolov Jr. of Russia also advanced.
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