The Serbian, who missed the tournament last year, crushed the Spanish Carballés Baena and will go for his tenth title at the first Grand Slam of the year.
Novak Djokovic made a triumphant return to australia tomorrow, where he was not banned from playing a year ago for not being vaccinated against the coronavirus. The Serbian, former world number one and nine-time champion at the first Grand Slam of the year, was cheered by the crowd and crushed Spaniard Roberto Carballés Baena 6-3, 6-4 and 6-0.
Nole, 35, reappeared at the Rod Laver Arena and unleashed a frenzy on the crowd in the stands, which were filled with flags in his face, posters and Serbian banners. In just two hours, the current number 5 in the ATP world ranking eliminated Carballés Baena (75) and awaits Frenchman Enzo Couacaud and Bolivian Hugo Dellien.
Djokovic is coming off an ATP 250 win in Adelaide, his first performance of the season, and favorite in Melbourne, a year after his case generated global controversy. On January 5, 2022, the Serbian tennis player was detained for several hours at the airport, detained for two weeks in a hotel for migrants, and finally the Australian authorities decided to deport him because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19, which is in violation of regulations. of access at that time to the country.
All of Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open titles
- 2008
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2015
- 2016
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Source: Tycsports
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
