Tomás Etcheverry vs Novak Djokovic, at the Australian Open: background, program and how to see them live

He eliminated the Scotsman in three sets Andy Murray on his debut and then also won a beautiful match against the Frenchman in two sets Gaël Monfilsto advance to the third round of the Australian Open. And this Friday, Tomas Etcheverry He will have to face the biggest challenge and will try to achieve great success in the first Grand Slam of the season. Because the player from La Plata, 32nd in the world, will face the Serbian Novak Djokovicnumber one in the world and a big favourite, in a duel that will be the main attraction of the sixth day of the tournament and in which the Argentine will seek his first victory against one of the best in history.

“Playing with Djokovic, who is my biggest idol, is always very nice. And being able to do it at the Rod Laver could be great”, said Etcheverry emotionally when speaking to ESPN, shortly after eliminating Monfils with a sensational 6-4, 6-4 and 6-4, without yet knowing who his next rival will be. The fact is that at that moment the Serbian was on the pitch, playing – and suffering at times – in the clash with the local team. Alexei Popyrinwhich in the end was won with a lot of work 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) and 6-3.

“It’s the third time I’ve faced him and it will be another unique feeling. It’s a dream to be able to play in the main stadium with him, because I grew up watching him and everything he achieved is incredible. But I’m already a player with more experience and I have many. “I want to get on the field and try to beat him. You have to go in convinced and confident”, he reflected when the match with the number one was already confirmed.

Third time’s the charm, the old saying goes. The man from La Plata will try to prove that this saying is true. Whoever will compete for passage to the round of 16 of the Oceanic Major will be third in the head-to-head match against Nolewhich leads history by 2 to 0. The previous two occurred last year, the best – at least for now – in the short career of the Tommy.

The first crossover occurred in the second round of Rome Masters 1000 and it was also the first time that Etcheverry found himself facing a top 10. The story ended with a victory for the Serb, but it wasn’t a slap in the face. Situated at the time in 61st place in the rankings, the Argentine showed off his excellent tennis and battled the number one, who survived a very tight first set and then picked up cruising speed to advance in the Foro Italico. It was 7-6 (7-5) and 6-2 in just under two hours of play.

The second took place at the end of the calendar, still in the second round, but from Paris Masters 1000. The reality of the people of La Plata was already different. Having established himself in the top 50 – the following week he would reach his best placing, 30th place -, he had gained confidence with a great performance in Roland Garros (He reached the quarterfinals celebrating against quality rivals, such as Alex De Minaur AND Choric terminal) and raised the level. But he ran into an intractable Djokovic, who beat him comfortably 6-3, 6-2.

“An honor to play my last match of the year with Novak. I take away many positive things to continue growing,” he wrote in instagram Etcheverry, who thus brings the curtain down on an excellent year, in which he also played his first two finals, in Santiago, Chile AND Houston.

The third match, which will be played this Friday on Australian hard courts, sees Etcheverry in great form and Djokovic, with some doubts.

The 24-year-old from La Plata had a weak start to the season, with defeats in the early rounds Brisbane AND Adelaide, the two tournaments he played before Australia. But in Melbourne he once again played at an excellent level and easily got rid of Murray, former number one and three-time Grand Slam champion, and Monfils, always a difficult rival.

“It was a great match. The atmosphere was very nice, there were fans on both sides, many Argentinians and also many French. There was a lot of energy on the pitch and that didn’t make things easy, but I managed to I manage it very well and I played excellent tennis”, commented the Argentine about the duel against the Frenchman.

Djokovic, 36 years old and this year seeking the coveted Golden Slam – and his 25th “great” -, had to fight to beat the Croatian on his debut Dino Prizmic18 years old, 187th in the ranking and since qually, in four sets and four hours. And he was much more unpredictable than usual in the fight against Popyrin, in a duel in which he was dazed and even collided with a spectator.

“Over the last week I haven’t felt in the best shape or shown my best game. It’s frustrating to see the level of tennis I’m competing at and the uncharacteristic mistakes I make, but that’s sport. It’s normal to go through moments like L ‘The only thing you can do is face it, accept what is there and try to build from there,’ he analyzed after beating the Australian.

And he recognized that he will have to improve a lot in view of the duel against Etcheverry, to whom he paid several compliments.

“I haven’t seen him play so far in the tournament, but I know he is playing the best tennis of his life on hard courts, his results are quite impressive. I know Tomás and he is a good guy,” he commented. “I will try to learn from previous matches, although I have the feeling that their level on this surface has grown a lot in recent times. I am aware that I will have to be very prepared for a difficult match.”

Etcheverry, meanwhile, was confident: “Con Nole we already know each other. Two months ago she hit me. I’ll have to find other solutions and see how I can counter their game. He is a rival who sometimes seems to have no holes, but you have to find them. “I’m having a fantastic week, I hope to continue like this in that match.”

Nole, Tomy’s reference

Djokovic is not just an idol for Etcheverry. It is the yardstick with which the man from La Plata has been measuring his evolution for years. The fact is that when he got his first ATP point, at the age of 17 and by winning the first round of the ITF Salinas to Peruvian André Ku Meza In October 2016 the Serbian was already number one.

Tomy, who started from the qualifiers and qualified for the second round, celebrated that victory in a special way. On a piece of paper he wrote “Novak Djokovic 12,900 points; Tomás Etcheverry 1 point. 12,899 to go” and a photo was taken, which some time later appeared on social networks.

When I entered the top 100, in April 2022, the postcard repeated itself. After playing the final of Challenger from Mexico Citywho lost to the Swiss Marc Andrea Huesler, Etcheverry jumped from 106th to 95th place and entered the top 100 ranking for the first time. And the same celebration came out: “Novak Djokovic 8,420, Tomás Etcheverry 714. 7,760 to go”. “I’m getting closer, Nole”she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo and emoji of a laughing face.

Today, curiously, the difference in points between the two is greater. The fact is that after a dream 2023 – in which she won three of the four majors (she only lost the final) Wimbledon in view of Carlos Alcaraz) and the ATP Finals-, Djokovic has increased his harvest and today accumulates 11,055. Etcheverry, on the other hand, has 1,375 (9,680 less than the Serbian). However, the tennis distance is smaller, because the man from La Plata has become a solid player, capable of defeating any rival. Will he be able to meet his biggest idol this Friday to make the big leap to Melbourne?