Djokovic wins, but doesn’t convince

A beautiful encounter was staged between Novak Djokovic and Jaime Faria in the second round of the Australian Open 2025. While at first it might have seemed that the match was going to be quickly decided in favor of the Serbian, the 21-year-old put up more of a fight than expected (6-1 6-7 6-3 6-2). The pupil of Pedro Sousa wanted to introduce himself to the world as a player to watch in the coming years, displaying power, determination, and charisma.

Novak Djokovic aims to reclaim his status as the top contender for winning Grand Slams. The ten-time Australian Open champion has reignited his competitive spirit after the coveted gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, which led him to hint at retirement, but at 37 years old, the Serbian craves more, despite dropping two sets against two debutants in the early rounds of this AO.

– A first set that was unlike the rest

It seemed as if Nole was playing against a much inferior opponent during the first set, quickly raising his game and finding ways to trouble a somewhat constrained Faria. Nevertheless, Djokovic began experiencing some lower body issues at the start of the second set, evident by his frequent stretching.

Faria started hitting the ball more freely, while Novak seemed diminished, not exerting himself on certain points, and started losing his composure, venting his usual outbursts towards the bench occupied by Andy Murray and Carlos Gómez Herrera. They ended the set in a tiebreak, which the Portuguese played splendidly, closing it at 7-4 with a drop shot that Nole didn’t even attempt to reach. Faria showcased flair and hunger to win, maximizing his strengths, like his powerful forehand.

– Everything changed indoors

Rain in the Melbourne sky forced a pause in the match, a moment that allowed Djokovic to catch his breath, refocus on his game. Once the roof closed, he rediscovered the precision lacking in his shotsand Faria began to falter more against his opponent’s solidity. Although the score indicates a comfortable third set, the truth is Nole faced more challenges than usual to emerge unscathed.

The fourth set was indeed different, as the Portuguese couldn’t replicate the level he had been showing, quickly falling behind in a match where Novak Djokovic prevailed but didn’t convince. In the third round, he will face Tomas Machac, who already made things tough for him in Dubai and whom he lost to in the 2024 Geneva ATP by 6-4 0-6 6-1.

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