Novak Djokovic says he is happy to be once again focusing on tennis whilst in Australia after winning his first match since getting deported from the country at the Adelaide International on Tuesday.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion dropped only five games during his 6-3, 6-2, win over French world No.66 Constant Lestienne in what is his first victory of the 2023 season. Djokovic won 86% of his first service points and broke three times in the 76-minute match en route to victory. He has now won 27 out of his last 29 matches on the Tour since Wimbledon.
“For the first match I can’t complain, I played very well,” Djokovic said. “I thought the first probably six games were very competitive.
“I’ve never faced him before today’s match. He’s a counter-puncher. He doesn’t make too many mistakes and he kind of absorbs the pace from his opponent, kind of tricky serve, hits his spots.
“But once I made that break at 3-2 first set I felt like I stepped it up one or two levels and played really good tennis the rest of the match.”
Adelaide is the first tournament Djokovic is playing on Australian soil since he was kicked out of the country last year due to a dispute over the legitimacy of his visa. The tennis star isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19 and was told he could enter the country with the use of a medical exemption which border force officials deemed as invalid. After two court hearings, the High Court sided with the government who decided to deport Djokovic.
The former world No.1 was banned from re-entering Australia for three years but in November had that penalty removed by the latest government administration. Furthermore, there is no longer a requirement for those travelling to show proof of vaccination.
There were fears that Djokovic could face a hostile reception in Adelaide but that has been proven wrong with fans cheering for him. During his doubles match on Monday, which he lost, there were chants of ‘Novak’ and Serbian flags being waved around in the crowd. It was a similar atmosphere during his clash with Lestienne.
“I’m glad to be back in Australia,” he said.
“Thank you all for coming out today. Thank you for giving me the welcome that I could only wish for.
“Over the years, Australia has been the place where I’ve played my best tennis, without a doubt.
“If I have to pick one country where I’ve had the most success, which treated me in the best way in terms of tennis, it’s here, definitely.
“Even the circumstances last year, it wasn’t easy for anybody. But I’m just happy to be here focusing on tennis, and enjoying my time with you guys.”
Djokovic will play another Frenchman, Quentin Halys, in the second round.
Elsewhere at the tournament, Daniil Medvedev was given a stern test after saving nine set points against Lorenzo Sonego in his opening match. The second seed faced multiple set points whilst trialling 4-5 and 5-6 before clawing his way back to triumph in the tiebreaker.
“I didn’t know it was nine [set points],” Medvedev said. “That’s actually crazy. Probably, maybe the first time in my life I’ve saved nine set points.”
“What a match to start the year,” he added.
Medvedev secured victory early in the second set when his opponent retired hurt when he was leading 7-6(6), 2-1. Sonego called for a medical timeout for treatment on his arm before deciding to retire.
The Russian will play Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in the next round.
