US EditionDjokovic’s 399th Grand Slam match win propels him into Australian Open third round
- On Thursday, Novak Djokovic defeated Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena to reach the Australian Open third round.
- Fourth seed Djokovic is pursuing an 11th Melbourne Park title and a 25th Grand Slam to surpass Margaret Court, currently tied with 24 majors.
- After an early surge, Djokovic raced into the lead and sealed the opening set in 47 minutes; he dropped serve briefly in the third set but broke back at love and finished on an eight-point roll.
- Djokovic's reward is a third-round meeting with Botic van de Zandschulp after the Dutchman beat Juncheng Shang, and a victory would mark Djokovic's 400th Grand Slam match win, a first.
- Amid cool conditions, reporters noted a record 103,720 combined day and night crowd and 508,430 cumulative total, alongside Djokovic's unusual habit of hugging a Brazilian fig tree in Melbourne's botanical gardens.
72 Articles
72 Articles
Djokovic eases into AO third round
Novak Djokovic sent 141st-ranked qualifier Francesco Maestrelli packing in straight sets to ease into the Australian Open third round on Thursday – with a little help from a fig tree. The Serbian great is on his latest mission to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and dismissed the Italian 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Djokovic faces China's Shang Juncheng or Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands next in Melbourne. Djokovic is well known for his sometimes…
Novak Djokovic chases major Grand Slam record after beating Francesco Maestrelli in Australia Open
Novak Djokovic continued his measured march through the Australian Open on Thursday, moving into the third round with a straight-sets victory that mixed near-flawless control with a brief, rare lapse. The Serbian defeated Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, extending his dominance at Melbourne Park while inching closer to a landmark few have approached. For much of the contest, Djokovic was untouchable on serve. After surrendering his first serv…
For Francesco Maestrelli was the most significant day of his career. The blue tennis player faced Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Australian Open...
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