Tennis

Agitated Djokovic finds 'on' switch

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-22 13:14

MELBOURNE: After muttering in Serbian, roaring in frustration and throwing his racket in anger, Novak Djokovic was relieved to get past pesky second-round opponent Marco Chiudinelli at the Australian Open yesterday.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during his match against Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland during the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 21, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Former champion Djokovic seemed a tortured soul early in his 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win over the 58th-ranked Swiss, throwing away the first set in a hail of unforced errors and angst-filled cries.

"Well, definitely I was frustrated, especially at start of the match because he was really giving it to me," a more tranquil Djokovic later told reporters.

"He was very aggressive and stepping in and using every opportunity that has been given to him.

"So automatically I just became 'too defensive' and didn't really make too much. Just waiting for his mistakes."

After handing a break back to allow Chiudinelli to level at 3-3 in the first set, third-seeded Djokovic pulled a new racquet from his bag.

Not long after, it was pounding into Rod Laver Arena's court, and the set was blown.

Djokovic's travails continued against the Swiss in the second but after saving five break points to advance to 3-1, the Serbian finally found the 'on' switch after an hour of groping about in the dark.

Winners found their mark, his serve behaved and he mowed through the next three sets in just more than two hours with barely a groan.

"I managed to make that transition from being defensive to being offensive and changing pace and holding the game in control in the second and third sets," Djokovic said .

The Serbian's ability to find an extra gear when stalled helped him haul in France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga when a set down to clinch the 2008 title.

Reuters