Novak Djokovic dropped a service game for the first time in this Australian Open and then didn't lose another point against Francesco Maestrelli, advancing to the third round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win. It was Djokovic's 399th win in a Grand Slam singles match, leaving the 24-time major just one more win away to be the first player ever to reach 400.
The break of serve, in the sixth game of the third set Thursday, was almost like Djokovic was doing a rehearsal for later matches. He followed a second serve to the net, but then missed the volley to give it up.
It stung the 38-year-old Djokovic, a noted perfectionist. He broke Maestrelli at love in the next game to take a 5-2 lead, smacking the last ball into the net after the Italian, ranked No. 141, hit a groundstroke long.
Djokovic held at love in an eight-point roll to finish things off. He's in Australia seeking an 11th title at Melbourne Park and a 25th major overall, which would make him the most decorated tennis player of all time.
In women’s singles, defending champion Madison Keys was down a double break in the second set before rallying to beat fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5. Melbourne is where Keys made her Grand Slam breakthrough 12 months ago.
Two other highly-ranked U.S. women advanced in the same tough quarter of the draw with No. 4 Amanda Anisimova fending off doubles champion Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6-4 and sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula recording a 6-0, 6-2 win over McCartney Kessler, her doubles partner.
Eighth-seeded Ben Shelton, a semifinalist here last year, reached the third round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Dane Sweeny, the Australian qualifier who ended the 39-year-old Gael Monfils' farewell trip to Melbourne Park in the first round. Fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti beat fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
Yuki Bhambri exits
India's Yuki Bhambri and his American partner Nicole Melichar-Martinez crashed out of the mixed doubles competition in the Australian Open after losing to the German-Chinese duo of Tim Putz and Zhang Shuai here on Thursday. Bhambri and Melichar-Martinez lost 6-3 1-6 (10-6) to sixth seeded pair of Putz and Shuai.
Bhambri's campaign in the year's first Grand Slam is, however, not over yet as he remains in fray in the men's doubles event. On Wednesday, Yuki and his Swedish partner Andre Goransson stormed into the second round of the men's doubles competition, defeating local wildcards James Duckworth and Cruz Hewitt 6-3 6-4.
The 33-year-old Bhambri's best performance at the Australian Open came in 2014 when he reached the third round alongside New Zealand's Michael Venus. His best showing at a Grand Slam came last year when the pair made a run to the semi-finals at the US Open. India's Niki Poonacha and his Thai partner Pruchya Isaro had, however, exited the men's doubles event after suffering a straight sets defeat to Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar.
Also read: Alcaraz, Sabalenka lead title charge at Australian Open
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