Etcheverry’s consolation after the fall against Djokovic: the emotional embrace of his idol, who praised him again

Tomás Martín Etcheverry said goodbye Australian Open with excellent sensations after his participation in the first Grand Slam of the season. He obtained two sensational victories against two historical figures such as Andy Murray and Gael Monfils and, despite not being able to disturb Novak Djokovic In his third round match, he showed an excellent level of play against the lord and master of this tournament losing 6-3, 6-3 and 7-6 (2).

Nole had anticipated the growth of the Argentine tennis player. “He’s taking sides the best tennis of his life on hard courts. “I am aware that I will have to be very prepared for a difficult match,” he said in the press conference before Friday’s match, underlining his human qualities and greeting each other online with an affectionate hug, they showed that the respect is mutual.

Complicit smiles between Etcheverry and Djokovic, who the Argentine confessed to having as an idol. “I’ve been following him since I was very young. I was born and raised watching him play and win. From the moment I picked up the racket for the first time he was already at the top,” he said in an interview last year.

He faced his idol at the Masters 1000 in Rome and Paris in 2023 and now they have met for the third time. Speaking to Alejandro Klappenbach, for ESPN, Tomy praised the Serbian: “It’s difficult to counter him because all the balls come close to the lines. What he proposes is complex. That’s why it’s number one, but hey, it’s part of the learning.”

“I had a bad time Games with my serve when he broke me, even in the second he broke me quickly and the matches were very difficult for me back. I didn’t even have a break point“, he analyzed, highlighting this as one of the keys to the defeat.

“In the third I raised the level, I played with a much higher intensity, but inside tie He didn’t give me a chance. He played his best tennis, I couldn’t counter him and that’s why he won the match, but it was another match in the third set,” he added later.

Along the same lines, speaking to former Australian tennis player John Fitzgerald, still on the hard court of Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic made a similar analysis. “He raised the level in the third set, but I managed to get my best shots win the game,” he commented describing it matches as the best of the tournament so far for him.

Then, the champion of 24 Grand Slam titles, who this Friday reached 100 matches played in the main draw of the Australian Open (92-8 record), once again recognized the work of the 24-year-old from La Plata. “It was a great performance for me. I played with Tomás, who had just beaten Murray and Monfils in straight sets, so he was playing very well. I served well, tried to stay aggressive when the opportunity came and I ‘I did well, especially in the first sets,’ he explained.

What will happen to Djokovic

When everything seemed to indicate that an attractive Djokovic-Shelton would reach the round of 16, Adriano Mannarino He appeared in the path of the young American and eliminated him after a four hour and 46 minute battle defined by 7-6, 1-6, 6-7, 6-3 and 6-3. So, the French expert He will be the Balkan rival in the next instance.

Then, if he continued to advance, he would face the winner of the clash between Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals and now In the semifinals, a new crossover with Jannik Sinner promises to be the one that all tennis fans are waiting for. The Italian, who overwhelmed Sebasitán Báez, will first have to beat Karen Khachanov and then Andrey Rublev or Alex De Miñaur, a task that is far from easy.

And at the bottom of the ranking is the great candidate Carlos Alcaraz, even if so much Daniel Medvedev AS Alexander Zverev they threaten to stop their progress, while a Grigor Dimitrov even those who come from being champions in Brisbane promise to give something to talk about.