3 days ago
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Swiatek is a break up on Kalinskaya: it’s 3-1 in the first on Margaret Court Arena.
*Van de Zandschulp 1-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
The Dutchman finds an inspired return winner for 15-15. At 30-30 Van de Zandschulp hits a forehand to the corner, a shot that says he is here to take a few risks, and deservedly wins the point. That’s break point on the Djokovic serve. At 30-40 the world No 75 goes inside-out with his forehand but it’s fractionally wide. A worrying moment successfully negotiated for the Serbian, who seals the hold with little fuss.
Van de Zandschulp 1-1 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
At 30-30 the Dutchman conjures up a 210-kmh serve down the middle, and follows it up with an ace to clinch his first hold. When he connects with that first serve sweetly it is a thing of ludicrous power.
Van de Zandschulp has only been broken once in the tournament himself, so Djokovic is unlikely to get anything for free there.
*Van de Zandschulp 0-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
The 10-times Australian Open champions opens with a ruthless hold, beginning with an ace out wide, working Van de Zandschulp around the court on the second and third points, and gratefully receiving an unforced error from his opponent to close it out.
Play is yet to resume on the outside courts due to the extreme heat.
Iga Swiatek, the No 2 seed in the women’s draw, is under way against Anna Kalinskaya on Margaret Court Arena.
“He’s looked good,” Tim Henman says on commentary of Djokovic’s form. “There’s always slight uncertainty coming into a new year and a new tournament … he’ll feel good. A lot of talk today about the heat and it’s a huge advantage being scheduled at night.”
Here we go then. Novak Djokovic and Botic van de Zandschulp are on court. The referee John Blom gives the players a very sensible-sounding briefing. A girl called April helps with the toss – she is introduced to the crowd and gets a warm round of applause, too. Djokovic wins the toss and will serve.
The roof will be closed for the first match, and I’m sure the powers-that-be will assess the temperature after that.
On John Cain Arena, the 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka has just taken the second set against Taylor Fritz (9). It’s 6-7(7), 6-2 over there.
Scheduled after Djokovic on Rod Laver Arena is Naomi Osaka (16) v Maddison Inglis. Osaka has been in the news.
Jack Snape
The Australian Open issued a statement on social media at 2.36pm local time.
“The AO Heat Stress Scale is above 5.0,” it said. “Play is suspended for all matches and practice on outside courts. The roofs on RLA [Rod Laver Arena], MCA [Margaret Court Arena] and JCA [John Cain Arena] will close and remain closed for the remainder of the match.
“If onsite, please seek shade and apply cooling strategies.”
Preamble
Novak Djokovic made short work of his opponents in rounds one and two: Pedro Martínez and then Francesco Maestrelli were dismissed in straight sets, with identical scorelines: 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. The Serbian would certainly take the same today against the dangerous world No 75 Botic van de Zandschulp, who beat him at Indian Wells last year, and has taken out Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal in the past couple of seasons.
Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, is yet to drop a set herself, although she had to win a first-round tiebreak against Yuan Yue on Monday, eventually coming through 7-5, 6-3. Marie Bouzkova was safely dispatched in the second round on Thursday, 6-2, 6-3, and today the Polish second seed will need to raise her game against Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, seeded 31.
There’s other tennis happening too, of course, and the breaking news is that organisers have been obliged to suspend play today with temperatures creeping towards 40C:
