If the Grand Slams ever give in and reduce men’s matches from best-of-five sets to best-of-three, one group of people will likely jump—and chant, and stomp—for joy: the Aussie Fanatics. When their countrymen are playing, those notorious, semi-professional noisemakers from Down Under must be as loud as they can be, for as long as it takes. On Tuesday, it took their man, Jordan Thompson, three hours and 42 minutes to lose to Argentina's Nicolas Kicker on Court 8. The Fanatics roared, “Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey JORDAN THOMPSON!”—or some similarly clever variant thereof—between virtually every one of the match’s 305 points. Thompson came back from two sets down, and pushed Kicker all the way. But in the end the Aussie walked off, and the Aussie Fanatics sheepishly dispersed, in awkward silence, while the Argentine celebrated—loudly and more than a little vengefully—at mid-court.
For the most part, it was quieter elsewhere around Melbourne Park on Tuesday, as the top seeds went about their business, and a couple of stars made impressively one-sided returns.
Novak Opens Off Broadway
Nothing says “Welcome Back!” to a six-time champion like sending him to Margaret Court Arena, the second-largest show court at the Australian Open, for his opening match. That’s where Novak Djokovic was exiled to on Tuesday, while 20-year-old Alexander Zverev, who has played the tournament twice, took center stage in Rod Laver Arena. But Djokovic didn’t seem to mind opening Off-Broadway, as he rolled unimpeded past Donald Young 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, in what the Serb happily termed a “very, very, solid performance.”
Djokovic also unveiled a new service motion, abbreviated to protect his injured right elbow. More than that, he signaled a new determination to throw in, Nick Kyrgios-style, second serves that resembled first serves. Djokovic was pleased with how the second serves went, but not with his first-serve percentage, which hovered in the mid-50s.
From the start, Djokovic was willing to go after his crosscourt forehand in a way that he often isn’t. It worked. Whether that’s something he’ll consciously look to continue, or whether it was just the product of feeling loose in a match that wasn’t close, is something we’ll learn more about when he faces Gael Monfils on Thursday. Either way, it was good to have Djokovic—buttoned up in Lacoste now—and his crisp presence back on court.