MADRID, 19 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, world number one, has beaten the Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry (6-3, 6-3, 7-6(2)) in his 100th match at the Australian Open, the first 'great' of the season and in which he defends his title, and will face in the round of 16 the winner of the duel between the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino and the American Ben Shelton.
In a packed Rod Laver Arena, the Balkan, ten-time winner in Melbourne (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023), celebrated his hundred matches in the 'big' in style. oceanic, a figure only reserved for tennis players like the Swiss Roger Federer (117) and the American Serena Williams (105).
The main favorite recovered again from his discomfort in his left wrist, shining at the back of the court, and did not face a single break ball against him, improving his feelings in the tournament, where in his first matches he showed some doubts to beat both the Croatian Dino Prizmic and the Australian Alexei Popyrin in four rounds.
A break in the sixth game was enough for 'Nole' to take the opening set, and two new breaks offered him victory in the second. Balance dominated the third set, with both contenders defending their serve, but Djokovic did not waste the opportunity to close the match in the tie-break after two hours and 28 minutes of play.
With this, he has 31 consecutive victories in the tournament and moves on to the second week, which will open against the winner of the tie that will pit the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino against the American Ben Shelton.
For his part, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, seventh seed and finalist of the 'big' oceanic event last year, decisively defeated the Frenchman Luca Van Assche (6-3, 6-0, 6-4) to reach the second tournament week with American Taylor Fritz.
Meanwhile, the Italian Jannik Sinner, fourth seed, also reached the round of 16 after beating the Argentine Sebastián Báez this Friday (6-0, 6-1, 6-3), a result that allows him to advance and face the Russian Karen Khachanov.