19. 01. 2009. · Defending champion Novak Djokovic is through to the second round of Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Italian qualifier Andrea Stoppini (world no. 220), 6:2, 6:3, 7:5, in 1 hour and 54 minutes on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
Novak used his eighth break point in the third game of the first set to go 2:1 up, and then held for 3:1. He made a break once again in the fifth game to increase his lead to 4:1. Both players held their services til the end of the set and Nole closed it 6:2.
After being a break down in the second set at 1:3, the best Serbian tennis player won five games in a row, breaking his opponent’s service three times for 6:3.
Third set didn’t start well for Djokovic. He was broken twice, and was down 0:4. He won three games in a row for 3:4, and later managed to equalise to 5:5, with another break in the tenth game. Number three in the world wanted to win this match in three sets and save his energy. He put the pressure on the Italian, and broke for the third time in the set to take it 7:5.
Novak had 6 winners more than Stoppini (34-28), and 9 unforced errors less than the Italian (27-36). He served 8 aces and converted 7 of 18 break points.
Novak’s postmatch interview you can read HERE.
Nole’s second round opponent will be world no. 68, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, who defeated Marcos Daniel from Brasil, 6:4, 6:4, 6:1.
Djokovic and Chardy have never played eachother before.
