Competing in his first singles match of the season, Novak Djokovic quickly found his range to overcome Frenchman Constant Lestienne 6-3, 6-2 and reach the second round at the Adelaide International 1, here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The win kept a potential Djokovic versus Daniil Medvedev semifinal on track after the third seed earlier advanced when Lorenzo Sonego retired with a right arm injury at 7-6(6), 2-1 (ret).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Djokovic and Lestienne were evenly matched through the first five games, once the top seed broke the floodgates opened for a victory, much to the delight of a packed centre court at The Drive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"For the first match I can't complain, I played very well," Djokovic said. "I thought the first probably six games were very competitive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I've never faced him before today's match. He's a counter-puncher. He doesn't make too many mistakes and he kind of absorbs the pace from his opponent, kind of tricky serve, hits his spots but once I made that break at 3-2 first set I felt like I stepped it up one or two levels and played really good tennis the rest of the match."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Not since the Australian Open fourth round five years ago had the former world No.1 lost a singles match Down Under.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
That came against Hyeon Chung and while world No.65 Lestienne was ranked only seven places below the South Korean at the time of that boilover, this always presented a tough opening ask for a 30-year-old whose best had come at Challenger level.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Djokovic awaits Australian Jordan Thompson or another Frenchman Quentin Halys for a return to the quarterfinals at the event he won back in 2007.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, Medvedev produced an almighty escape, saving nine set points against Lorenzo Sonego before the Italian retired hurt.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In his first singles clash on Australian soil since last year's agonising five-set defeat to Rafael Nadal in the final at Melbourne Park, the third seed was clutch under pressure to deny the world No.45 the early advantage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Yeah I didn't know it was nine [set points]," Medvedev said after the 7-6(6), 2-1 (ret) victory. "That's actually crazy. Probably maybe the first time in my life I've saved nine set points.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"What a match to start the year. Unfortunate for everybody that it finished early in a way even if we played one hour and 40 minutes but happy to be through."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sonego, a champion in Metz last year, had never faced the former world No.1 but dictated for much of the opening set, frequently forging his way to net to keep his 26-year-old opponent on the back foot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Italian held six set points on his opponent's serve at 5-4 but time and again Medvedev came up with the big serves when he needed them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Again Sonego had his chances two games later when three more set points went begging from 0-40 on his opponent's serve, but the seeds of doubt were now planted and after 80 minutes Medvedev finally turned the tide in his favour to snatch the first set in a tiebreak.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I mean to be honest 0-40 was a tough moment. I didn't count but I knew I saved a lot of set points," Medvedev said. "But if I'm not mistaken we didn't have a lot of rallies to play. A lot of them were from my good serves or him missing a couple of returns, so I'm like 'OK I saved this great game, now I have to bring the momentum to my side and now I'm 0-40 in the next one'.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"That's not so good in terms of tennis but I knew I had no other choice but to try to come back in this game also and I'm really happy that I managed to stay strong and bring the set to my favour."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Trailing 1-2 in the second set, Sonego called for treatment on his right arm before calling time on the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Medvedev will next meet Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic for a place in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Trailing 1-2 in the second set, Sonego called for treatment on his right arm before calling time on the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n