Australian Open outlook: Djokovic returns after COVID ban

Melbourne, Australia (AP) — wait until Tuesday

Novak Djokovic is set to return to action at the Australian Open after being deported from the country a year ago for not being vaccinated against COVID-19. He has won 30 of his matches in the last 31 tournaments going back to the end of last season. He has won his 10th Australian Open trophy and is seeking a 22nd Grand Slam title in tennis history to tie with his rival Rafael Nadal. Djokovic faces Spain’s Roberto Carvarez Baena in the first round on Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena. No. 2 seed Casper Ruud faces Thomas Machak and Andy Murray faces Matteo Berrettini. Second-seeded female and two-time Slam runner-up Ons-Jabbar faces Tamara Zidansek, while fourth-seeded Caroline Garcia faces Katherine Sebov.

forecast for tuesday

Showers possible. Maximum temperature is 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius).

Main Results Monday

Men’s first round: No. 15 Yannick Sinner defeated Kyle Edmund 6-4, 6-0, 6-2. No. 28 Francisco Cerundro defeated Guido Pera 6-4 6-4 6-3. No. 10 Hubert Furkac defeated Pedro Martinez 7-6 (1) 6-2 6-2. No. 20 Denis Shapovalov defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-1. No. 29 Sebastian Korda beat Christian Garin 6-4 1-6 6-3 6-2.

Women’s First Round: 3rd place Jessica Pegula defeated Jacqueline Adina Christian 6-0, 6-1. Marta Kostyuk beat her No. 28 Amanda Anisimova 6-3 6-4. Seventh-placed Coco Gauff defeated Katerina Sinakova 6-1, 6-4. Bianca Andreescu defeated No. 25 Marie Buzkova with her 6-2, 6-4 win. No. 13 Daniel Collins defeated Anna Kalinskaya 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. No. 6 Maria Sakkari defeated Yuan Yue 6-1 6-4. No. 15 Petra Kvitova beat Alisson van Uytbank 7-6 (3), 6-2. No. 17 Jelena Ostapenko defeated Dayanaya Stremska with her 6-4 6-2.

today’s stats

Zero — Chinese men’s main-game wins at the professional-era Australian Open through Monday, when 17-year-old qualifier Shan Junchen defeated Germany’s Oscar Otte 6-2 6-4 6-7 (2). 7-5.

quote of the day

“Yes, we feel the pressure of being on top of America and wanting to do well for our country, but they feel they are in a ‘GOAT’ state and we Not even close to it. We are still putting pressure on ourselves for that. — Coco Gauff asked if she and Jessica Pegula feel any pressure to represent the United States after all of the Grand Slam successes of sisters Serena and Venus Williams.

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