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Djoko bobo

Very reduced Thursday evening by a thigh injury which has handicapped him for ten days, Djokovic managed to beat the Frenchman Enzo Couacaud (191st in the world) 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6 -0.

But his behavior on the court, with a medical time-out, multiple grimaces, aborted runs, obvious attempts to shorten points, is worrying before facing the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (28th) in his quest to equal the record of 22 Grand Slam titles held by Nadal.

"We must pay tribute to Enzo who was able to push the match to a fourth set," commented the Serb, refusing to dwell on his injury.

In fact, and despite a flattering score in the last two sets, he let his nervousness show when he suddenly asked the referee for the expulsion of a spectator who was too noisy for his taste.

American Jenson Brooksby winner of Norwegian Casper Ruud in the second round of the Australian Open on January 19, 2023 in Melbourne © Martin KEEP / AFP

"There's a guy, drunk as a pig, taunting me from the first point. What are you going to do? Why don't you ask security to get him out?"

the Serb asked the referee at 2-0 in the fourth set.

The four troublemakers were effectively sent off during the next change of sides.

And "Djoko" completed the match.

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Headless Australian Open

Ruud, 3rd in the world and finalist of the last US Open, also on hard court, saved four match points before finally losing to the American Jenson Brooksby (39th) 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4 /7), 6-2.

So much so that in the absence also of Carlos Alcaraz, for only the fourth time since 1985 a Grand Slam tournament will be deprived of the three best in the world from the third round, after Roland-Garros 1990 (Lendl, Edberg, Becker) and the Australian Open 1999 (Sampras, Rios Corretja) and 2002 (Hewitt, Kuerten, Agassi).

"Casper is a warrior, but I was confident in my game and came to try my luck all the way. I'm very proud of the mental toughness I showed after losing the third set," Brooksby commented. participates in his very first Australian Major, at 22 years old.

Sure enough, Ruud saved three match points at 5-3 in the third set which he eventually won.

But the American quickly regained the upper hand and ruined the Norwegian's hopes of becoming world No.1 at the end of the tournament.

French Caroline Garcia during her Australian Open 2nd round match against Canadian Leylah Fernandez on January 19, 2023 in Melbourne © Martin KEEP / AFP

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Shaken referee

"I've never seen such a bad referee, were you watching the birds?", Frenchman Jérémy Chardy got carried away, addressing the German referee in his match against Daniel Evans (30th).

He blamed him for having been slow to see that a ball had fallen from his pocket, believing that this delay had cost him a break and the first set.

The 35-year-old Frenchman finally logically lost to the Briton 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.

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Confirmed ambitions

Everything went very well, however, for the French Caroline Garcia (4th), who beat the Canadian Leylah Fernandez (40th) 7-6 (7/5), 7-5, showing herself to be superior in aggressiveness.

"Winning the first set was a bit of a hold up because she was always in front and she won her service games more easily than me," admitted the 29-year-old Frenchwoman who will face the German on Saturday. Laura Siegemund (158th) for a place in the round of 16.

Ditto for Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (5th) who took less than an hour and a half to get rid of American Shelby Rogers (51st) 6-3, 6-1 with 32 winning strokes.

The Australian in heaven after beating Taylor Fritz in the 2nd round of the Australian Open on January 19, 2023 in Melbourne © Paul CROCK / AFP

The 24-year-old, who had reached the round of 16 of the last two Australian Majors, will try to do the same on Saturday against Belgian Elise Mertens (32nd).

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lost illusions

It's over, however, for the American Taylor Fritz (9th) and the German Alexander Zverev (13th).

A very big surprise for the first, beaten by the Australian Alexei Popyrin (113th), beneficiary of an invitation, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-7 (6/8) 6-2.

A little less for the second who had not played a major tournament since Roland-Garros where he tore ligaments in his right ankle while leading in the semi-finals against Rafael Nadal, and who lost against the American Michael Mmoh (107th), drafted from the qualifications.

© 2023 AFP