Novak Djokovic into Australian Open 2019 third round after straight-sets win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Novak Djokovic eased into the Australian Open third round with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
It was a repeat of the 2008 final, which Djokovic won in four sets. Tsonga gained his revenge in the quarter-finals two years later but has slipped outside the top 100 in the rankings after missing most of last season because of knee surgery.
Tsonga could be proud of his efforts and pegged Djokovic back when he threatened to pull away but the world number one proved too consistently strong.
In his on-court interview after the win, Djokovic said: "It certainly you could feel tension on the court. We were going through a lot of emotions and trying to start in the best possible way. It's always tough playing Jo, he struggled with injuries in the last 12 months, ranking doesn't do him justice at the moment."
Next up for Djokovic will be a third-round match on Saturday against the Canadian 25th seed Denis Shapovalov.
Djokovic said of Shapovalov: "I have lots of respect for him, for his determination and professionalism at such a young age. He's very mature mentally, which is not common to see. He's proven he can beat players. I'm expecting a tough one."
Saturday will be the first meeting between the two players.
Game, set and match! Djokovic defeats Tsonga 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
Djokovic made a mess of serving out the second set at 5-4. Will history repeat itself here? It doesn't look like it. A beautiful, curling ace takes Djokovic to two match points at 40-15. And he only needs one, as Tsonga blares a return long.
Djokovic is through in 2hr 4min, and he'll play Canada's 25th seed Denis Shapovalov in Saturday's third round.
Djokovic* 6-3, 7-5, 5-4 Tsonga (*next server)
Tsonga does at least force Djokovic to have to serve it out with a hold to 30.
Djokovic 6-3, 7-5, 5-3 Tsonga* (*next server)
Djokovic is in a spot of bother when a double fault has us at 30-30. But he digs in to find some brilliant line and length on the next couple of points. He holds, and Tsonga will serve to stay in the match.
Djokovic* 6-3, 7-5, 4-3 Tsonga (*next server)
Tsonga holds on to 15, but it feels a little bit like locking the door after the horse has bolted. This match has been so close to coming alive on a couple of occasions, but has never quite ignited.
Djokovic 6-3, 7-5, 4-2 Tsonga* (*next server)
Is the white flag being raised here? Djokovic eases to another comfortable hold - this time to 15 - and he's just a couple of games away from the third round.
Djokovic* 6-3, 7-5, 3-2 Tsonga (*next server) - Djokovic breaks
It looks like being another simple hold for Tsonga at 40-0, but there's no-one better at rescuing these type of situations, and some brilliant Djokovic defence has us back at deuce. A fourth and fifth game points come and go for Tsonga, and you can just feel the tension growing here. "Please, please just let me have this game," his body language is screaming out. But Djokovic isn't going anywhere, and you just know he's going to break this game. Sure enough, Tsonga nets a forehand after some more brutal Djokovic defence to cough up a break point. Will Novak take it? Of course he will. Tsonga sprays another forehand long, and that is the break. That was the most Djokovicy game of all time. Just ridiculous defensive skills. Tsonga must want to throttle his opponent.
Djokovic 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 Tsonga* (*next server)
Tsonga trying to rush the net and draw error from his opponent. Djokovic is so solid though, and holds to love. Just the one point dropped on serve so far in this third set.
Djokovic* 6-3, 7-5, 1-2 Tsonga (*next server)
Tsonga has played some great tennis this match, and he does so again here with a brilliantly punched volley on his way to a hold to 15. If he hadn't suffered lulls at crucial moments, the scoreline would be a lot closer.
Djokovic 6-3, 7-5, 1-1 Tsonga* (*next server)
Djokovic responds with a love game of his own, sealed with an ace - his ninth of the match - out wide.
Djokovic* 6-3, 7-5, 0-1 Tsonga (*next server)
Tsonga could, and probably should, have won that second set, but at least he channels his frustration here to good effect - playing aggressively to wrap up a love hold.
Djokovic 6-3, 7-5 Tsonga* (*next server) - Second set Djokovic
As the clock ticks past midnight local time, there is to be no second reprieve for Tsonga. Djokovic serves the set out to love this time, and is a set away from a third-round match against Denis Shapovalov.
That's one way to win the set ��
A touch of brilliance from the world No.1 earns @DjokerNole a two sets to love lead, taking the second 7-5. #AusOpenpic.twitter.com/Juddmf8GH4— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2019
Djokovic* 6-3, 6-5 Tsonga (*next server) - Djokovic breaks
Just when you thought Tsonga had wrestled the initiative, he coughs up a couple of terrible forehand errors to present Djokovic with two break points at 15-40. He saves them both with some monster serving but then, my word, he misses an absolute sitter of a smash and is down break point again. Oh, Jo what have you done? Thankfully for Tsonga he saves the break point with an even easier smash. Tsonga then forces a game point, but he implodes again and loses the next three to hand the break straight back to Djokovic. That was a dismal game from Tsonga.
Djokovic will serve for the second set for the second time.
Djokovic 6-3, 5-5 Tsonga* (*next server) - Tsonga breaks back
Well, well. Consecutive missed backhands from Djokovic have us at 0-30, before another sumptuous lob - this time on the forehand side - takes Tsonga to three break points at 0-40! And he only needs one this time, as Djokovic sprays a forehand long. Excellent defence from Tsonga in that last point, and on we go in the second set.
Djokovic* 6-3, 5-4 Tsonga (*next server)
Tsonga hits himself on the head after holding easily to 15. He's still furious about tossing away his serve two games ago. Djokovic will serve for a two-sets lead.
Djokovic 6-3, 5-3 Tsonga* (*next server)
Yep, he's back. After a slight wobble, Djokovic is hitting freely again - bulleting a backhand up the line en route to a love hold. Tsonga will serve to stay in the second set.
Djokovic* 6-3, 4-3 Tsonga (*next server) - Djokovic breaks
Wouldn't this be textbook Djokovic? He's struggled this set, but a missed Tsonga forehand earns Novak his first break point of the set. And of course he takes it - Tsonga is furious at himself after missing a simple volley.
Djokovic up a set and a break.
Djokovic 6-3, 3-3 Tsonga* (*next server) - Djokovic saves two break points and holds
Tsonga is angry that the point is not replayed after a Djokovic serve is overruled and called in. He channels the frustration brilliantly though, and plays the most exquisite backhand lob to earn himself two break points at 15-40! That was Murray-esque. Djokovic responds well though, fending them both off as Tsonga can twice only put forehands into the net. Djokovic then reels off the next couple of points to hold.
Tsonga had been the better player this set but he can't make the breakthrough.
Exquisite lob from @tsonga7 �� #AusOpenpic.twitter.com/CteRLqVJyK
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 17, 2019
Djokovic* 6-3, 2-3 Tsonga (*next server)
Some excellent defence from Djokovic, but Tsonga is equal to it - putting away a couple of tricky volleys to complete a hold to 30. We remain on serve in the second set.
Djokovic 6-3, 2-2 Tsonga* (*next server)
Better from Djokovic this game, holding to love with a flurry of service winners. The pressure swings back to Tsonga.
Djokovic* 6-3, 1-2 Tsonga (*next server)
Pretty scrappy stuff from Djokovic at the moment, who has made more unforced errors than his opponent this match. A couple more mistakes make it 40-15, and Tsonga completes the hold with a very nifty forehand round the net post after chasing down a drop shot. Beautiful shot-making.
Slick @tsonga7 �� #AusOpenpic.twitter.com/zG37NOBF0Y
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 17, 2019
Djokovic 6-3, 1-1 Tsonga* (*next server) - Djokovic saves a break point and holds
Apply some pressure, he most certainly can! Tsonga bullies his opponent to set up a clinically-dispatched smash to open up a break point at 30-40. It's a real chance as well but Tsonga blares a forehand well long. He does the same on the next two points as well to present Djokovic with the hold.
Djokovic* 6-3, 0-1 Tsonga (*next server)
Simple love hold from Tsonga to kick off the second set. Now can he apply some pressure on the Djokovic serve?
Djokovic 6-3 Tsonga* (*next server) - First set Djokovic
Djokovic shows no ill-effects from that fall at the end of the last game. He thwacks down a few big serves to race to 40-0, and completes the hold to 15 when Tsonga misses a backhand return.
Djokovic a set up after 31 minutes.
Djokovic* 5-3 Tsonga (*next server)
Boy, he needed that. Tsonga clings on to his serve with a hold to 30 after edging a final point that ends with Djokovic sprawled on the floor after trying to chase down a stop volley. Incredible defence from Djokovic that point.
Djokovic will serve for the first set.
Djokovic 5-2 Tsonga* (*next server)
No messing around this time. Djokovic holds commandingly to love, sealed with an ace - his second of the game - out wide.
Tsonga will serve to stay in the first set.
Djokovic* 4-2 Tsonga (*next server) - Djokovic breaks
A brilliant backhand and a missed Tsonga forehand earn Djokovic a break point at 30-40. Tsonga saves it with a big serve, but he then sprays consecutive forehands to gift the break straight back.
Three breaks in a row - echoes of the first set of Williams vs Bouchard earlier.
Djokovic 3-2 Tsonga* (*next server) - Tsonga breaks back
What looks like being another easy hold at 40-15 suddenly gets a little bit interesting as Djokovic sprays a couple of errors for deuce. Djokovic then misses two further game points after twice moving ahead with aces. And what have we here? Tsonga nails a 100mph inside out forehand winner to earn a first break point. And he takes it! Djokovic is wide with a backhand and out of nowhere we're back on serve.
Djokovic* 3-1 Tsonga (*next server) - Djokovic breaks
Well that didn't take long. Tsonga can't buy a first serve and Djokovic takes full advantage - flicking away a forehand passing shot winner to break to love. From a competitiveness perspective, that's a bit of a blow.
Djokovic 2-1 Tsonga* (*next server)
A second serve ace at 30-15 the highlight of a breezy hold to 15 for Djokovic. Solid start from both players.
Djokovic* 1-1 Tsonga (*next server)
Lovely feel from Tsonga to plop over a well-disguised drop shot for 30-0. A service winner and an ace then wrap up a nerve-settling love hold.
Djokovic 1-0 Tsonga* (*next server)
Comfortable service game to ease us in here, as Djokovic races to 40-0 and holds to 15 when Tsonga miscues a forehand return.
Ready? Play
Djokovic to serve first.
It's a rematch of the 2008 #AusOpen final.
Will Novak Djokovic or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga emerge victorious?#sleepisfortheweakpic.twitter.com/hnFjJm4KfH— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2019
The players are out
And knocking up. We'll be under way shortly.
Game, set and match Williams
Serena has thumped Bouchard 6-2, 6-2, so Djokovic and Tsonga will be taking to the court shortly.
When we were young
Eleven years ago, two young bucks stunned the tennis aristocracy to set up an Australian Open final that no-one saw coming. With everyone anticipating a first Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal, up stepped Novak Djokovic and the unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to deliver a couple of knockout blows.
Djokovic took care of Federer in straight sets, while Tsonga did the same to Nadal, and so we headed into the 2008 Australian Open final knowing that either way there would be a first-time grand-slam champion.
Tsonga won the first set, but Djokovic battled back to win it four.
Now more than a decade on, the pair meet again for the second time in Melbourne since that final (the first rematch was a 2010 quarter-final that Tsonga won in five sets). Back to the here and now, and Djokovic goes into today's match as the No. 1 seed and a 14-time major winner, while Tsonga has not reached another slam final and is ranked a lowly No. 177.
To give Tsonga his due, that ranking is deceptive after he missed most of last year through injury. He looked sharp in reaching the Brisbane semi-final two weeks ago, and hopefully will be in a position to challenge his illustrious opponent today.
Djokovic enters the tournament off the back of winning the final two majors of last year and as the world No. 1. He is the heavy favourite to lift what would be a seventh Australian Open crown come next Sunday.
Overall, Djokovic leads the head to head 16-6 against Tsonga, including 12 out of the last 13 matches. It would take a brave man to bet against Djokovic extending that run today.
The players are due on court after the conclusion of the Serena Williams vs Eugenie Bouchard match. Serena is currently a a set and a break up.
