NATURE LOVER: Serbian Djokovic, eyeing a 25th Grand Slam title, prepared for his second-round victory by hugging his oldest friend in Melbourne, a Brazilian fig tree
-
Staff writer, with AFP, MELBOURNE
-
-
Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and Japanese partner Eri Hozumi yesterday survived Russians Alexandra Panova and Irina Khromacheva to advance to the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Taiwan’s Ray Ho and German Hendrik Jebens won their men’s doubles opener.
Wu and Hozumi beat the Russian 11th seeds 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in 2 hours, 9 minutes in Melbourne to set up a second-round match against the US’ Sabrina Santamaria and Russia’s Maria Kozyreva.
Wu won two of her three WTA doubles titles early last year in the run-up to last year’s Australian Open with China’s Jiang Xingyu, who this year partnered with Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching.
Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien returns during her doubles match with Japan’s Shuko Aoyama against Desirae Krawczyk and Jessica Pegula of the US at the San Diego Open in California on Feb. 27, 2024.
Photo: AFP
Wu last year crashed out in the second round with Russia’s Anna Blinkova, after reaching the third round in 2024 with China’s Zhu Lin.
Chan and Jiang, seeded 14th, were yesterday knocked out in the first round in a narrow 5-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10/1) loss to Blinkova and Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan.
In men’s doubles, Ho and Jebens overcame seventh seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in 2 hours, 21 minutes.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a shot behind his back against Italy’s Francesco Maestrelli during their men’s singles match at the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday.
Photo: AFP
Twenty-five-year-old Ho, a doubles specialist, won eight of his 11 doubles titles on the ATP Challenger Tour last year.
The Taiwanese-German pairing are next to face Briton Luke Johnson and Poland’s Jan Zielinski, who won the tournament’s mixed doubles title with Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei in 2024.
In men’s singles, nature-lover Novak Djokovic strolled into the Australian Open third round, sending 141st-ranked qualifier Francesco Maestrelli packing in straight sets at Rod Laver Arena.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka warms up before her women’s singles match against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea at the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday.
Photo: AFP
The Serbian great, on his latest mission to win a record 25th Grand Slam title, dismissed the Italian 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Djokovic is well known for his sometimes unusual preparations, which include hugging a Brazilian fig tree in Melbourne’s botanical gardens.
“That is my oldest friend here in Melbourne,” said the 38-year-old former world No. 1, who has won 10 Australian Open titles, more than anyone in history. “He has been there to heal my wounds and give me company. We have a friendship going over 20 years.”
In an all-US clash, sixth seed Jessica Pegula made light work of McCartney Kessler in a rapid 6-0, 6-2 win.
However, the 58-minute annihilation of her doubles partner left Pegula with mixed feelings.
“Always tricky when you have to play someone that you know and that you like, and also that you’re playing doubles with,” she said. “That part was kind of just unfortunate, I guess, because, you know, we obviously want to see each other do well separately in singles, not when we have to play each other.”
Second seed Iga Swiatek, who has won six major titles, but never been successful in Melbourne, was in cruise control against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.
“I’m trying to appreciate every match, and take nothing for granted,” the Pole said after a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
An error-riddled Naomi Osaka left her parasol, hat and veil in storage before the Japanese superstar ground into the third round with a nervy 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win over Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
