The supportive signs and dozens of Serbian flags and loud chants of Novak Djokovic's nickname filled Rod Laver Arena, providing a warm welcome marking his return to the Australian Open — a tournament he has dominated in the past but one he could not enter a year ago.
Djokovic acknowledged the greeting with a quick wave of his left hand when he stepped out onto the court at 10:30 pm on Tuesday, then got down to business by playing quite well and only briefly showing a hint of trouble from the balky left hamstring that was heavily taped.
With his parents and brother in the stands at Melbourne Park for the first time since he won his first Grand Slam title there 15 years ago, Djokovic began the first-round match with an ace at 125 mph (201 kph). He held at love there, took control of that set with a 12-point run and was on his way to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 victory over 75th-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena that finished after midnight.
“Unbelievable atmosphere. Thank you so much for staying this late, everybody. Also, thank you for giving me such a welcoming and a reception I can only dream of,” Djokovic told the crowd in an on-court interview. “I really feel very happy that I’m back in Australia and I’m back here on the court where I had the biggest success in my career.”
ruud through
Norwegian second seed Casper Ruud battled through to the Australian Open second round as he kicked off a campaign that could see him become world number one.
The 24-year-old ground down Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena in a match that finished after 1:00am. He will next play American Jenson Brooksby who toppled Australian Christopher O'Connell.
"It's been a long day," said the world number three Ruud, whose build-up suffered an unexpected blow when he lost his first match at the Auckland Classic warm-up tournament.
"I'm very eager to hopefully have a good tournament and this was a good start, a tough one.
"Tomas played well, very aggressive, but I was able to come back and stay strong towards the end, so very happy," he added.
Ruud missed last year's event with an ankle injury, but recovered to enjoy a breakthrough 2022, reaching the final of both the French and US Opens.
He had a chance to top the rankings when he took on Carlos Alcaraz in the Flushing Meadows final, but the Spanish teenager won in four sets to take the title and with it the number one spot.
Alcaraz is not in Melbourne as he nurses an injury and three players could take the top ranking from him by lifting the trophy. They include Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic, Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and Ruud.
According to the governing body ATP, Ruud can also become world number one by simply reaching the final, as long as neither Djokovic nor Tsitsipas win the title.
If none of those scenarios play out, the reign of Alcaraz will continue.
Jabeur survives
Second seed Ons Jabeur's quest for a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open began with a shaky 7-6 (10/8), 4-6, 6-1 victory over Tamara Zidansek littered with unforced errors.
The Tunisian was runner-up at both Wimbledon and the US Open last year but had to grind past the Slovenian world number 98 under the roof on Rod Laver Arena in a 2hr 17min battle.
Jabeur has set herself the twin targets in 2023 of becoming the first Arab and African woman to win one of the four tennis majors and toppling Iga Swiatek from the number one ranking.
"I just tried to follow what my coach told me to do," she said of her turnaround in the third set.
"I wasn't really doing that and he's going to kill me after the match," she joked.
Jabeur committed 49 unforced errors during her stuttering opening match, but only six came in her much-improved third set.
"I just tried to be more patient. It's a tough sport and you definitely don't want to play three sets here."