Djokovic sets up Monfils meeting in Brisbane Open second round
Novak Djokovic won against Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-3 in a first-round meeting at ATP 250 event in Brisbane on Tuesday
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2024
Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic
Serb Novak Djokovic, the top seed, won against Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-3 to move into the second round of the Brisbane Open at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Tuesday.
Djokovic needed only an hour, 16 minutes to complete the straight-set victory.
He did it on the back of 12 aces and 81 percent average on first-serve points. He broke Hijikata thrice, meanwhile keeping his serve unchallenged throughout.
“I always expect myself to do well on the court. Obviously, a win is a win,” said Djokovic after his win. “To start off the new season with a win is very important. I think Hijikata deserves a great round of applause for his performance tonight, he was really good. He made me work, definitely, for the win tonight.”
Djokovic, ranked No 7, will face Gael Monfils next. This will be the Serb’s 20th meeting with Monfils on the tour as he remains unbeatable against the Frenchman, leading the head-to-head 19-0.
Brisbane ATP 250, other first-round results (Queensland Tennis Centre, hard, USD 766.290, most recent results first):
- Gael Monfils beat Nishesh Basavareddy (Q): 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
- Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard beat Nick Kyrgios: 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3)
- Dusan Lajovic (LL) beat Arthur Cazaux: 6-4, 6-4
- Jakub Mensik beat Mikhail Kukushkin (Q): 7-6 (3), 6-4
- Frances Tiafoe (4) beat Adam Walton (WC): 7-6 (5), 6-3
- Matteo Arnaldi beat Alexei Popyrin (7): 6-3, 6-2
- Reilly Opelka beat Federico Agustin Gomez (Q): 7-5, 6-4
- Jiri Lehecka beat Holger Rune (3): 7-5, 6-3
- Grigor Dimitrov (2) beat Yannick Hanfmann (Q): 7-6 (5), 6-3
- Nicolas Jarry beat Mariano Navone: 7-5, 7-6 (7)
- Jordan Thompson (8) beat Matteo Berrettini: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
- Yoshihito Nishioka (Q) beat Arthur Rinderknech: 6-3, 6-4
- Alex Michelsen beat Christopher O’Connell: 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10)
- Benjamin Bonzi (Q) beat Alejandro Tabilo (6): 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-4
- Aleksandar Vukic (WC) beat David Goffin: 6-2, 6-3
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