In his first official match since Wimbledon last summer, Novak Djokovic cruised past Donald Young 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 during first-round action at the Australian Open on Tuesday afternoon. Djokovic a whopping 25 break-point chances (converting six) while advancing in one hour and 51 minutes.
And what better place than Melbourne Park for the former world No. 1’s return to tennis? After all, he boasts a 59-7 lifetime record at this event with titles in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 (that’s six, for those counting). He is still six wins away from a seventh triumph Down Under and the competition level will soon increase, but the Serb is certainly off to a strong start.
He got some help from Young, too. The 63rd-ranked American might as well have not even showed up for the first two sets, trailing 6-1, 5-0 before making things relatively competitive the rest of the way. Young seized his lone break of the day down 5-0 in the second and held for 2-5 before Djokovic wrapped up the second set with a hold of his own. Young’s best effort came while he served to stay in the tournament at 3-5 in the third. The underdog saved five match points before finally holding for 4-5. Of course, that only delayed the inevitable. Djokovic held in routine fashion to clinch the win, converting his sixth match point by forcing Young into a forehand error.
“It feels so great to be back here,” Djokovic said during his on-court interview. “It feels so great to be back on the tennis court. There is no better place for me to come back than the Australian Open. I love coming here; I love playing here.
“It’s been a long period without any official competition. I’ve never faced this particular situation in my life; in my career. I was absent for one month maximum since I started playing professional tennis. (This time) it was different. The injury escalated last year around Roland Garros and Wimbledon, so I had to take some time off…. The first match after six months, you never know how you’re going to start off. Obviously I wanted to start with the right intensity, and I did: 6-1, 5-0.”
Highlights:
solid, but Young was ghastly
Young was beyond lost. Monfils will provide a much tougher challenge.
Glad to have Joker back in the mix!