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Djokovic, Federer, Osaka, Serena through to third round

By Jacob Akindele
23 January 2020   |   2:34 am
Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round with a 6/1, 6/4; 6/2 victory over Tatsuma Ito of Japan. The world number 2 raced through the first set but Ito held his service games in the second set before Djokovic....

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return against Japan’s Tatsuma Ito during their men’s singles match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2020. (Photo by Greg Wood / AFP)

Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round with a 6/1, 6/4; 6/2 victory over Tatsuma Ito of Japan. The world number 2 raced through the first set but Ito held his service games in the second set before Djokovic broke his opponent’s serve to take the ninth game.

He then served out the set. 6/4. Ito is ranked 146 in the world and entered the main draw as a wildcard beneficiary. Djokovic was dominant again in running through the third set, helped by 11 aces and a high percentage of points won after his first serves.

Roger Federer delivered 14 aces and no double fault in defeating Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic, 6/1; 6/4; 6/1. It was a wide margin at the end, with Roger wining total 0f 89 points for 18 games to Filip’s 56 points and 6 games respectively. Fatigue could not be ruled out as the 27-year old Filip had outlasted Frenchman Quentin Halys in a marathon 7/6(7); 7/6 (1); 3/6; 4/6; 7/5 first round match the previous day.

Michael Mmoh took a close first set from Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut before the Spaniard, seeded 9, took control and clinched the next three sets, 6/2; 64; 6/1. However, Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur progressed to the third round with a 1/6; 6/2; 6/3 victory over Sorana Cirstea of Romania.

Serena Williams won the first set of her match against Tamara Zidansek from Slovenia. During a shaky patch in the second set, Serena lost her service to concede the seventh game. However, Tamara could not consolidate as Serena leveled 4 games apiece en route to winning the set and match.

Coco Gauff committed a match total of 9 double faults in her match against Sorana Cirstea of Romania. The 15year old American lost the first set 6/4 but rallied to win the next two sets 6/3; 7/5. In the third round, Coco will face the defending champion, Naomi Osaka who struggled in the second set before overcoming China’s Saisai Zheng 6/2; 6/4.

American Tommy Paul won the first two sets but Grigor Dimitrov rallied to take the third and fourth sets. The Hungarian led 5-3 in the fifth set and served for the match at 5-4 but lost his serve. The set was decided by a tie break in which the American prevailed 7/6(10-4). At the finish line, the two players won a total of 29 games each while Grigor won three more points than his opponent’s 200.In the other marathon encounter, Italy’s 12-seeded Fabio Fognini shocked the home crowd with a 7/6(4); 6/1; 3/6; 4/6; 7/6(10-4) victory over Jordan Thompson.

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