Australian Open: Novak Djokovic with a demonstration of power at the start against Roberto Carballés Baena – that’s how the match went

Especially in set three, the 21-time Grand Slam champion showed his opponent the limits and dominated at will.

The next opponent of the 35-year-old, who was expelled from Australia last year before the start of the tournament due to the lack of a corona vaccination, is either Hugo Dellien from Bolivia or Enzo Couacaud (France).

This is how Djokovic’s opening match at the Australian Open 2023 went.

Australian Open 2023 live in the ticker: Novak Djokovic against Roberto Carballés Baena

2:50 p.m. – Goodbye!

And with that I say goodbye for today and thank you for your interest. Tomorrow, from 6:00 a.m. German time, the next second round matches will continue. Then there are Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

14:44 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 6:4, 6:0

Despite his thigh problems, Djokovic rushed into the next round at the Australian Open unchecked, underpinning his status as the top favorite. Carballés Baena was able to tickle the Serbs at least in the first two sets. In the third round, however, Djokovic shifted two gears higher and served the Spaniard 6-0.

14:40 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 6:4, 6:0

Djokovic now serves to win the match after a little over two hours – and he does it more than confidently. A forehand winner down the line gives the Serb the first three match points on his own serve. The 35-year-old transforms the first one with a powerful second serve. Djokovic is well deserved in round two in Melbourne.

14:37 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 6:4, 5:0

Carballés Baena’s resistance is now finally broken. Djokovic keeps his foot on the gas and sends the Spaniard from one corner of the pitch to the other. With loud “Nole, Nole” calls, Djokovic secures the next two break chances (15:40). With a sensational return winner, the Australian Open record winner increased to 5:0. For Carballés Baena, on the other hand, things are getting really tough.

14:34 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 6:4, 4:0

What the former number one delivers in this third set is really impressive. The Serb doesn’t give Carballés Baena the slightest chance on his own serve and confirms his break with a nice backhand volley. Only 1:56 hours have been played – there is no longer any sign of a surprise.

14:30 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 6:4, 3:0

Djokovic now dominates at will, playing cat and mouse with his opponent. So far, all ten points played in the third round have gone to the Serbs. Number eleven gives the 21-time Grand Slam champion three more breakballs. Carballés Baena can still thwart the first break chance, but Djokovic is not impressed by it and ultimately gets the next break with a sensitive stop. The Serb is clearly on course for the second round.

14:25 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 6:4, 2:0

The 35-year-old is doing it now, with aplomb. In a quick run, Djokovic gets his service through (to zero) and increases to 2-0. Good advice is now expensive for Carballés Baena.

14:22 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 6:4, 1:0

Djokovic now wants to force the early decision. First he scores with a nice lob on Carballés Baena’s serve, then he surprises the Spaniard with a forehand longline worth seeing, which still slaps on the baseline. The Serb stays on the trigger and gets three break balls. Djokovic transformed the first with a great backhand volley. The Djoker marches.

14:16 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 6:4

So Djokovic serves to win the set. He forces his opponent to make more mistakes. The longtime number one quickly has three set balls. Another backhand error by Carballés Baena delivered Djokovic the set win to 6: 4.

14:12 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 5:4

The Serb brought his own service to 5: 3 without any problems and to zero. This means that Carballés Baena has to serve against the next set loss. Djokovic also wants to dominate this service game from the start. But the Spaniard doesn’t put up with it. He serves well and shortens for the time being.

14:04 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 4:3

For the Spaniard it’s getting tighter again. It goes several times over the debut, as Djokovic noticeably increases the pressure. A break would suit the Serbs. But Carballés Baena initially saves himself with good first serves. But Djokovic doesn’t let up. Thanks to a net edge roller, the top star gets the next breakball. Djokovic forces his opponent to make a mistake and it’s a break to 4: 3.

13:55 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 3:3

Like his opponent, Carballés Baena is not flawless. Again, his serve is about debut. But the Djoker cannot use this in his favor. So it’s 3:2 for the Spaniard. Djokovic then follows up and equalizes with a forehand winner. So far the second set is very balanced – mainly because the Serb has decreased in intensity.

13:44 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 2:2

Even with serve Djokovic, Carballés Baena is now fully in the game. It even goes beyond debut, but the Serb can pull his head out of the noose and equalizes. He benefits from a backhand error from Carballés Baena.

13:36 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 1:2

On the other hand, things are getting tighter for Djokovic again. When serving on his own, he finishes his rallies a little unfocused. The Serb therefore has to go above and beyond, but can secure the 1-1 with a strong serve. And Carballés Baena is apparently back on track. The Spaniard is sure to win his next service game.

13:27 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3, 0:1

Also in set two, Carballés Baena has a few problems with his own serve. Djokovic tries to put pressure on quickly, the next breakball is the result. But the Spaniard can parry it with a great first serve. Carballés Baena wins the game with a debut, a great rally and a hammer serve.

13:20 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 6:3

The 29-year-old Spaniard can save his next service without much effort. However, Djokovic serves to win the set. And the long-time number one doesn’t let anything burn. He varies well, forcing Carballés Baena to make mistakes. Djokovic deserves three set balls. He easily converts the first one with an ace through the middle. Strong performance by Djokovic!

13:11 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 5:2

Carballés Baena serves again. Djokovic visibly increases the pressure, he finally wants the break. And he can do it: after a double mistake by the Spaniard, the favorite has three chances to break. With a great forehand winner after a rally worth seeing, Djokovic then also gets the break to 4: 2. He now pulls up significantly and also wins his service game.

13:01 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 3:2

Now Djokovic is getting a little more agitated. He lets Carballés Baena pull away 40-0 on his own serve. So that’s three break chances for his opponent. Djokovic can fend off the first two with forehand winners and number three is also unused by the Spaniard. The Serb is very focused and plays the points cleverly. He gets the game to 3:2 via debut.

12:56 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 2:2

The Spaniard can’t really break free on his own serve. At first he serves well, but as soon as Djokovic gets into the rallies, Carballés Baena comes under pressure. It is therefore also about the debut, after a backhand error by the Spaniard there is even the first breakball for Djokovic. Carballés Baena can fend off this with an ace, but shortly afterwards he still wins the game.

12:47 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 2:1

Carballés Baena has a little more trouble on his own serve. However, he benefits from some mistakes made by the Serb. He equalizes to 1: 1 and then boldly attacks Djokovic’s serve. However, Carballés Baena cannot counter the placed shots of the nine-time Australian Open winner. 2:1 for the Djoker!

12:40 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena 1:0

Djokovic opens the match at around 10:30 p.m. local time in Melbourne. The Serb, whose battered left thigh is heavily bandaged, starts the serve a little shakily. In the rallies, however, Djokovic plays with concentration and scores quickly. The first game goes to the favourites.

12:34 Uhr – Djokovic – Carballés Baena -:-

Djokovic and Carballés Baena enter the Rod Laver Arena to great applause. The two players are just warming up. Shortly before, Ons Jabeur (No. 2) won at the same place after more than two hours of play against Tamara Zidansek (7: 6 (10: 8), 4: 6, 6: 1).

11:15 a.m. – Waiting for Djokovic

Jabeur and Zidansek take their time. The two ladies have just played the first movement on Rod Laver. The favored Tunisian won this in an exciting tie-break 7:6 (10:8). This pushes the Djokovic match further back. The Serb will probably not start before 12:00 p.m. (CET).

10:30 am – Djokovic match delayed

In the meantime, the game has been interrupted again on the outdoor pitches without a roof. After the great heat of the day, it has been raining heavily in Melbourne for some time.

INFO – Hello and welcome!

Hello and welcome to the second day of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Katharina Wiedenmann accompanies Novak Djokovic’s performance at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year for you. The Serb meets the Spaniard Roberto Carballés Baena in the night session.