Novak Djokovic starts his Australian return with a win over Constant Lestienne as the Serb will face Daniil Medvedev in the semi-final
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic continue with his winning streak in Australia, beating French player Constant Lestienne 6-3, 6-2 Tuesday in the first round of the Adelaide International.
It was Djokovic’s 30th straight singles victory on Australian soil in a streak that goes back to 2018.
Djokovic’s win on Tuesday was his first in singles this season and keeps him on course for a semifinal match in Adelaide with Daniil Medvedev, the third seed, who earlier defeated Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 7-6 (6), 2-1 when Sonego was forced to retire with a right arm injury.
Djokovic’s match was close at first but he took control after breaking Lestienne to go up 4-2 in the first set. He won the first four games of the second set and took the match on his first match point.
Djokovic, whose last loss in Australia was in the fourth round of the 2018 Australian Open, will face either Jordan Thompson of Australia or Quentin Halys of France for a place in the quarterfinals.
He was again warmly received by the crowd in Adelaide where he won this tournament at only 19.
Djokovic is playing in Australia for the first time since 2021. He has won the tournament nine times. He was deported last year because his unvaccinated status breached Australian vaccination requirement for inbound travelers.
“To be honest 0-40 was a tough moment,” he said. “I didn’t count but I knew I saved a lot of set points.
