Australian Open 2020: Novak Djokovic overcomes wobble to progress
Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic started his title defence with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 2-6 6-1 victory over Jan-Lennard Struff on Monday.
Djokovic survived a scare on Rod Laver Arena, but the 16-time grand slam champion eventually moved into the second round at Melbourne Park.
Eyeing a record-extending eighth Australian Open title, second seed Djokovic will face either Tatsuma Ito or Prajnesh Gunneswaran for a spot in the third round.
World number 37 Struff presented a tricky opening test for Djokovic, especially with Craig O'Shannessy - the Serbian star's former chief strategist - now in his corner.
When the shot is this good, even the commentators are left speechless @DjokerNole, take a bow
@Channel9 | @espn #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Fwkzto818r — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2020
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Struff, who had never beaten Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, was not overawed, displaying aggression from the baseline and net.
Despite blinking first as Djokovic broke for a 4-2 lead and consolidated for a 5-2 advantage, Struff was unperturbed and reeled off three consecutive games, despite saving a set point along the way, to level the match and then force a tie-break.
Djokovic, however, managed to hold off the tenacious German in a tense and taxing breaker, using a wide serve to close it out at the second time of asking.
Struff was clearly feeling the effects when he quickly fell 2-0 behind at the start of the second, and Djokovic never relinquished the advantage before he broke again for a two-sets-to-love lead.
It seemed routine for Djokovic but he suffered an uncharacteristic stumble in the third as Struff's chances of a huge upset returned.
The pair traded breaks before the Djokovic serve went AWOL, allowing Struff to move 4-2 up before Djokovic served two double faults at 2-5, 30-30 to hand Struff a lifeline.
Normality was swiftly resumed in the fourth, however, Djokovic breaking in the opening game and again for a 4-1 lead before closing it out on the Struff serve to seal his 900th Tour level win.
Life lessons with @DjokerNole #231: Try to enjoy every moment #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/cvgA7U7Swh — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2020
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STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Novak Djokovic [2] bt Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 2-6 6-1
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Djokovic – 44/28
Struff – 39/34
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Djokovic – 14/3
Struff – 13/7
BREAK POINTS WON
Djokovic – 64%
Struff – 80%
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
Djokovic – 65
Struff – 56
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
Djokovic – 77/50
Struff – 65/41
TOTAL POINTS
Djokovic – 113
Struff – 91