Tennis: Defending Champion Novak Djokovic Makes Second Round
January 19th 2009 12:29
Defending champion, Novak Djokovic, admitted he was feeling extra pressure at the Australian Open after he overcame lapses in concentration to reach the second round. The Serbian world No.3 saw off a late revival by Italian qualifier Andrea Stoppini 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in one hour and 54 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic has had a poor start to the season, losing twice as he adjusts to a change in racquet, and went a break down in the second set before coming from 1-4 down in the third.
“There is pressure. But it didn't affect me today, I'm still trying to find the rhythm and I'm slowly getting there,'' he said.
“It is a different feeling, but I look at it as a challenge.''
The Serb was pleased with his responses to being broken by Stoppini and said he was still feeling his way into the tournament.
“It was a bit of a slow start. I was a break down in two sets but I managed to come back, which is important,'' he said.
“I try to look at it as a positive thing. It's the first round. Usually you are trying to get used to (the conditions) a little bit, and hopefully the next round will be better.''
The Serb won his maiden grand slam title in Melbourne last year and claimed two Masters series titles as well as the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.
But he missed out on a chance to overtake Roger Federer as world No.2 when he lost to Finland's Jarkko Nieminen in Sydney last week.
Djokovic was also beaten by Latvian Ernests Gulbis in his first match of the season at the Brisbane International.
“I had a slow start in the first weeks of the year,'' he said.
“`I didn't play my best tennis and I was a break down in the second and third set. So I'm still not on top of my game but hopefully I can get a good result here again.''
He next plays unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy who overcame Marcos Daniel of Brazil 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
Djokovic has had a poor start to the season, losing twice as he adjusts to a change in racquet, and went a break down in the second set before coming from 1-4 down in the third.
“There is pressure. But it didn't affect me today, I'm still trying to find the rhythm and I'm slowly getting there,'' he said.
“It is a different feeling, but I look at it as a challenge.''
The Serb was pleased with his responses to being broken by Stoppini and said he was still feeling his way into the tournament.
Novak Djokovic Wins Australian Open 2008
“It was a bit of a slow start. I was a break down in two sets but I managed to come back, which is important,'' he said.
“I try to look at it as a positive thing. It's the first round. Usually you are trying to get used to (the conditions) a little bit, and hopefully the next round will be better.''
The Serb won his maiden grand slam title in Melbourne last year and claimed two Masters series titles as well as the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.
But he missed out on a chance to overtake Roger Federer as world No.2 when he lost to Finland's Jarkko Nieminen in Sydney last week.
Djokovic was also beaten by Latvian Ernests Gulbis in his first match of the season at the Brisbane International.
“I had a slow start in the first weeks of the year,'' he said.
“`I didn't play my best tennis and I was a break down in the second and third set. So I'm still not on top of my game but hopefully I can get a good result here again.''
He next plays unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy who overcame Marcos Daniel of Brazil 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
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