AO - Night 1 - Djokovic v Struff

Although Jan-Lennard Struff lost to Australian wildcard Alex Bolt last week in Adelaide, he would be likely to present much more of a challenge when playing defending champion Novak Djokovic in the second match in the first night session at this years AO. His power game has shown improvement over the past couple of years to where he almost was seeded for this tournament.

And so the opening set began with Djokovic serving and holding predictably well. Struff started ok and levelled, forcing the second seed to overhit on occasion. The famed Djokovic return did show itself, a reminder to Struff that things would not be easy in this contest. An ace was a nice closer.

A love game took Djokovic to 2-1, a pair of aces, and a clean winner involved. The sixth game saw the first problem on serve, and it came for the German player. A great return forced Struff into a complete mess, but he recovered the next point with a terrific volley. Another brilliant return forced a wide forehand. Then a long forehand produced two break points. A netted German backhand and the resultant break.

At 2-5, Struff survived the longest game of the set, saving a set point, and then shocked everyone by breaking the what had seemed invincible Serbian serve. A netted forehand from Djokovic, a wonderful backhand pass from Struff, a wide Serb backhand and one that landed long, all conspiring.

Only a single point against the serve until we reached a tie break.

Three of the first four points went against serve, and Djokovic led 5-3. A failed Serb backhand and Struff was back on serve 4-5. A German netted forehand and two set points for Djokovic. One saved when Djokovic stuffed up a forehand. He won the set with a wide serve causing Struff to only hit the net. 7-6(5).

Struff won the opening point of set two, but lost the next four and Djokovic had the perfect start. Games went to serve until 2-4, when Struff was at the line. Djokovic pushed and stretched Struff to all parts of Melbourne Park, and there was no answer. The final point was sensational for its defence turned into a winning forehand from nowhere.

Serving for the set, Djokovic reached two set points, assisted by an ace, and a forehand down the line. He won it on the second set point 6-2.

After leading 40-0 in the first game of set three, Struff struggled through two deuces before holding serve. He then broke the Djokovic serve to love. Djokovic fought back immediately and games were on serve 2-1 Struff. Djokovic levelled at 2-2, but no one expected Struff to take control of proceedings as he did for the remainder of the set. He won four straight games to win the set 6-2, and have the right to serve first in the fourth.

The momentum didn’t continue unfortunately for Struff, and he was broken in the opening game of the fourth set. Djokovic consolidated easily. Struff held for 1-2, but from there it was the Djokovic show.

The defending champion won 7-6(5) 6-2 2-6 6-1, in an entertaining first round contest.