federer and djokovic take control
Last Updated : GMT 08:00:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 08:00:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

In Melbourne

Federer and Djokovic take control

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleFederer and Djokovic take control

Roger Federer.
Perth - Muslimchronicle

Flawless Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic stamped their mark on the Australian Open on Tuesday with focused former champion Maria Sharapova also successfully negotiating the first round after her drug ban.

Defending champion Federer, rated as favourite to win his 20th Grand Slam title, made his entrance on Rod Laver Arena with a sizzling 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 lesson for Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene.

The second seeded Swiss, who is coming off an extraordinary 2017, when he won a fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth at Wimbledon, was in total control.

"I was thinking a lot about what happened at the tournament last year because it was my favourite tournament of the whole season," said the 36-year-old, who beat Rafael Nadal in the 2017 final.

"I'm hoping for it to go well again."

Twelve-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic has been out of action for six months with an elbow injury, but he too looked the goods in his 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 demolition of American Donald Young.

Gunning for a seventh Australian Open title, he was glad to be back at the coal face, having missed the competitive edge.

"I wanted to start with the right intensity, which I have," he told the cheering crowd afterwards.

"I played perfect tennis in the first couple of sets and Donald came back in the third set."

Former Melbourne champion Stan Wawrinka also successfully returned from half a year on the sidelines after knee surgery, having only decided he was fit to play at the weekend.

With the temperatures heating up, he was pushed to four sets by Ricardas Berankis before prevailing 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/2) in a tough workout he said was "proud" to come through.

World number one Simona Halep booked her place in round two, avoiding the first round exit that befell her in the past two years. But she made a meal of it against local hope Destanee Aiava.

Both the Romanian and her 17-year-old wildcard opponent needed on-court medical attention before the top seed ran out a battling 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 winner.

Third seeded Garbine Muguruza, with heavy strapping on her injured right thigh, made her tournament bow with a laboured 6-3, 6-3 win over French wildcard Jessika Ponchet.

- 'Really meaningful' -

Sharapova, still working her way back from a 15-month ban for taking the performance-enhancing substance meldonium in Australia in 2016, showed glimpses of the tennis that made her a five-time major winner.

The 2008 Melbourne Park champion, now ranked 48, beat Germany's Tatjana Maria 6-1, 6-4 in her first Australian Open match in two years.

"I cherish these moments. I love it here," said the Russian, who returned from her drugs ban in April last year.

"It's been a couple of years and I wanted it to be really meaningful to me."

Fellow former world number one Angelique Kerber, who won the tournament in 2016, was also impressive in dismissing Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-0, 6-4.

"2017, I have said goodbye already, I am not looking back," she said after a forgettable last season that saw her relinquish the number one spot and slide down the rankings.

She is now on a 10-match win streak after a perfect early season.

Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova and eighth seed Caroline Garcia also progressed, in contrast to the other side of the draw that saw Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and Coco Vandeweghe crash out on Monday.

American woes continued with Madison Brengle sent packing by British ninth seed Johanna Konta.

Young gun Alexander Zverev, seeded four, Belgian seventh seed David Goffin, and dark horse Tomas Berdych were among men to make the second round.

But Canada's Milos Raonic, who has made at least the last eight over the past three years in Melbourne, was bundled out by 86th-ranked Slovakian Lukas Lacko in four sets.

It was his earliest Grand Slam exit in seven years as he fights back from a wrist injury.

Source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

federer and djokovic take control federer and djokovic take control

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleSkincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:06 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleEurope brings on charm and blue skies

GMT 08:37 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Europe brings on charm and blue skies
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleModern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchroniclePuigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 08:25 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleAmazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 08:31 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Amazon to open first cashierless shop
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleThe Rake announces editorial updates

GMT 08:20 2018 Wednesday ,17 January

The Rake announces editorial updates
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleAirbus to get '10 years of visibility'

GMT 08:39 2018 Monday ,22 January

Airbus to get '10 years of visibility'
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleFor the Variety of Interior Design Styles

GMT 10:46 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

For the Variety of Interior Design Styles
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleUS Christian tourists see deep meaning

GMT 08:00 2018 Monday ,22 January

US Christian tourists see deep meaning
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleWENN appoints entertainment journalist

GMT 09:07 2018 Monday ,22 January

WENN appoints entertainment journalist

GMT 11:33 2017 Monday ,10 April

Force or Rebels face Super Rugby axe

GMT 16:29 2011 Sunday ,23 October

EU ready to revise bloc treaty

GMT 00:48 2017 Thursday ,05 January

Venezuela formally adopts Mercosur customs norms

GMT 20:59 2011 Friday ,19 August

Where the Bodies are Buried

GMT 11:49 2017 Wednesday ,19 July

Cooper left out as Cheika calls up new faces

GMT 12:32 2015 Monday ,04 May

Night wolves enter Finland with valid visas

GMT 14:13 2017 Thursday ,23 February

International media conference concludes

GMT 09:38 2017 Wednesday ,05 July

Singer Mai Seleim sad for delaying her album

GMT 02:36 2011 Monday ,07 March

Living Architecture promotes happy holidays

GMT 10:39 2018 Tuesday ,09 January

Pay Dh50 and make internet calls on Etisalat

GMT 06:40 2017 Friday ,10 February

MP calls for removing text from Islamic story

GMT 11:24 2017 Tuesday ,04 April

Dodgers open new MLB season with a bang

GMT 11:54 2017 Thursday ,28 December

IS claims Kabul bombings

GMT 07:18 2017 Monday ,06 November

Heroic Encounters with Our Favourite Superheroes

GMT 19:32 2017 Friday ,20 October

Wydad’s player confident of qualifying

GMT 15:17 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

Cruden could miss three weeks

GMT 11:45 2017 Sunday ,30 July

Menna denies new part of "Al Asleyeen"

GMT 08:36 2017 Saturday ,04 November

Haifa Wahby faces a war to stop working in Egypt

GMT 09:17 2017 Saturday ,09 December

Vigorous US job creation continues in November
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle