Australian Open: Novak Djokovic defeats qualifier Enzo Couacaud in four sets as Jenson Brooksby stuns Casper Ruud | Tennis News

Novak Djokovic survived a four-set battle with Enzo Couacaud to reach the third round of the Australian Open but concerns will grow over his left hamstring condition.

Djokovic took a medical timeout during the second set and looked uncomfortable, wincing and stretching, but he was unable to join Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud in their early exits, 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6 – 0 to set the clash with Grigor Dimitrov.

The former world No. 1 also called for drunken spectators who jeered him to be thrown out, going to the chair umpire to vent his frustrations about the jeers in the crowd.

“That guy, he’s drunk out of his mind. He’s not here to watch tennis, he’s provocative,” Djokovic said. “So I ask you, what are you going to do?”

Four men in fancy dress were then escorted from the Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic enters the tournament injured having played in Adelaide two weeks ago.

He eased through the first round match against Roberto Carballes Baena and said afterwards that the leg is improving, and there seems to be no alarm in the first set, with Couacaud cause for concern after rolling the ankle.

However, during the second, Djokovic began to show signs that he was feeling the injury, calling the coach at 4-5 and leaving the court.

The Serb has a reputation for managing seemingly miraculous recoveries from physical ailments, winning the title here two years ago after tearing an abdominal muscle for example, but certainly not moving anywhere near a normal level and being pulled up several times while running.

He could find a way through this despite losing the second set of the tie-break he seemed to be in control but there should be serious question marks about his chances of winning a 10th title in Melbourne.

American Jenson Brooksby caused his second major shock at the Australian Open by defeating second seed Casper Ruud.

A day after Rafael Nadal limped past another American, Mackenzie McDonald, Brooksby defeated Norway’s Ruud 6-3 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 for the biggest win of his career, recovering from losing three match points. in the third set.

The result means the men’s event has lost two top seeds before the third round for the first time at a Grand Slam since 2002.

“Casper is a warrior, I know it will be a great fight out there. I’m pretty confident with my level and just wanted to have fun out there and see what can happen,” said Brooksby.

“I’m very proud of my mental determination outside after the fight in the third set was irreversible.

“Last year, I had COVID, the day before I was going to fly, and it was not fun.

Ruud certainly has high hopes for the tournament after reaching two Grand Slam finals last year, at the French Open and the US Open.

But he struggled from the start with the unorthodox style of 22-year-old Brooksby, named after former British driver Jenson Button.

Brooksby, who finally clinched the win on the fifth match point raised his tired hands in the air, and then said: “I’m really proud to resolve the mental problem after the third flight did not move.”

Ruud admitted his long exhibition tour with Rafael Nadal may have compromised his Grand Slam chances after joining the Spaniard in a quick exit.

The Norwegian said: “It’s easy to sit here now and say it’s bad for me and Rafa because of the fact that we lost here.

“(Preparation) may not be enough to perform well here this year. So me and the team will consider what we will do in December this year, and if this is the right way to prepare Australia. Open or not.

“It might not seem like the right way, but there are a lot of factors that go into it.”

Home favorite Alexei Popyrin cried as the John Cain Arena crowd chanted his name after defeating eighth-seeded Taylor Fritz in a five-set thriller.

“This is a dream for me. And I don’t want to wake up at all,” said Popyrin in an interview in court.

“I’ve won as many matches this year as I won all last year, and only in January. I don’t want the feeling I had last year ever again. I love this feeling, I want more.

America is lucky to lose Michael Mmoh booked his place in the third round with a 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-3 6-2 win over 12th seed Alexander Zverev at the Margaret Court Arena.

“I have packed my bags and booked my flight back to the US,” Mmoh said in an interview in court. “Life is crazy. When you think everything looks dark, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

It has been a hugely successful tournament for the American people, and Brooksby was combined in the third round by Tommy Paul, JJ Wolf – who disturbed the seeds in Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Diego Schwartzman, respectively – and 20 years Benjamin Sheltonwho is on his first ever trip outside the US.