Novak Djokovic faces Alexei Popyrin for the second round of the Australian Open. The Serbian, world number 1, took the first set with ease 6-3, but the match became uphill for him from the second onwards, when the Australian, supported by his audience, managed to snatch the break and ended up taking the set. 6-4.
In the third Popyrin confirmed that perhaps he was playing the best tennis of his life, and encouraged by the fervor of his compatriots, he beat Djokovic by playing real points. With that sharp blow he managed to move ahead 5-4 and 40-0 but with Nole’s serve and there the cold mind of the winner of 24 Slams seemed to resurface and overturn history: there were a total of four set points that he raised to win that match.
After that dramatic match, in which the local fans vibrated as if it were a Davis Cup match, Djokovic and Popyrin reached a playoff in which the Serbian showed his laurels and took the set at the first opportunity which he had 7-4.
A calmer than usual Djokovic opposes a Popyrin who tries to win the match of his life and deal one of the blows of the year for sport, in case he eliminates the 1 in the world, who dreams of winning all the matches of the Grand Slam of the year.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.