World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has been all business in the early rounds of the Australian Open, sweeping his overmatched opponents aside with ease. The super Serb will finally get his first true test of the tournament when he faces off with a familiar foe, Fernando Verdasco, in the third round.
Read up on the Men’s No. 1’s Round of 32 matchup below. Also, click here for our preview of Women’s No. 1 Serena Williams and her third round tie with Elina Svitolina.
Novak Djokovic has not been joking around in the first two rounds of the Australian Open. The World No. 1 breezed past Aljaz Bedene (6-3, 6-2, 6-4) and Andrey Kuznetsov (6-0, 6-1, 6-4) and has spent just three hours and 13 minutes on the court through two matches.
[sc:Other240banner ]Djokovic has put over 60 percent of his first serves into play, and more often than not, he’s turning those into points. His 85 percent of first serve points won is currently fifth in the tournament thus far.
Djokovic’s patented return game has also been very effective through the first two matches. He’s converted 11 of his 21 break point opportunities. Look for him to capitalize on any mistakes Verdasco makes, especially in the service game. Djokovic is 3-0 in his last three meetings against Verdasco on hard court.
Djokovic – a four-time Australian Open champion – has successfully reached at least the fourth round of the Aussie Open every year since 2007.
After needing four sets to oust James Ward in Round 1 (6-2, 0-6, 7-6, 6-3), the 31st-seeded Fernando Verdasco had a much easier time against Japanase Go Soeda in Round 2. Verdasco wrapped up his win in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(3).
Verdasco has been a little sloppy with unforced errors, racking up 78 over his first two matches. But he’s been able to compensate with 10 break points on 23 opportunities. Verdasco will have a much smaller margin for error when he comes up against the World No. 1 Djokovic.
Verdasco and Djokovic are quite familiar with one another. They have met 10 times over the course of their careers, with Verdasco 4-6 in those meetings. Although three of Verdasco’s four wins have come on his much preferred clay surface, he’s still managed to play Djokovic relatively well almost every time they’ve met.
Verdasco has taken one set off of Djokovic in each of their last three meetings on hard court (the Beijing Open in 2009 and 2013 and the 2009 US Open).
Writer’s Prediction
Djokovic strolls to the fourth round with another comfortable straight sets win over Verdasco.
