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1/16/12 4:53 PM | Cheryl Murray
Defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic kicks off 2012 in Melbourne against Italian Paolo Lorenzi.
Novak Djokovic had a dream year in 2011. The Serb won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open and lost only seven matches all season, most of which came post-September. A spate of back and shoulder injuries brought the world No. 1 up short as the season wound to a close.
Djokovic appears back at full fitness now however and comes into the Australian Open off a handful of winning matches at the exhibition in Abu Dhabi where he beat Roger Federer and David Ferrer.
Paolo Lorenzi isn’t likely to offer much resistance to the top seed. The Italian, ranked 109th in the world, plays almost exclusively on the Challenger Tour. He has played Djokovic one other time at Queen's Club back in 2010; the Serb beat him soundly 6-3, 6-3.
Prediction – Djokovic for the easy straight-set win.
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So, how long will it take Djokovic to win? Less than 70 minutes? I'd say about an hour, give or take 5 minutes.
nemanja230690 , 1/16/12 8:42 PM
^^ Add half an hour to that equation, Lorenzi is a good ball striker. Nole looks pretty good though.
samprallica , 1/17/12 3:06 AM
Please show some respect for the lower ranked players. Lorenzi can volley quite well and he's playing well too.
luckystar , 1/17/12 3:26 AM
Yes, Lorenzi is acquitting himself well, even though the scoreline might not suggest so. I thought Nole was being passive from the baseline, but it probably has to do with the fact that Lorenzi hits a deep ball, and then I saw the massive forehand on the second set point :D All is well.
samprallica , 1/17/12 3:43 AM
Must add that its very hot and windy out there.
samprallica , 1/17/12 3:46 AM
must say im thrilled with the scoreline, although it doesnt sound too straighforward from some of your comments samprallica? is it one of those situations where lorenzi is winning great points bt not winning the games? its nine straight games for nole now.
mriiidula , 1/17/12 3:57 AM
It wasn't too straightforward until about midway through the second. Now Nole's on fire. Brilliant tweener too :D
samprallica , 1/17/12 3:59 AM
Of course its all relative. Not that Nole wasn't playing well throughout, just that I wanted to see an extra gear. He's looked imperious
samprallica , 1/17/12 4:01 AM
17 straight games, and a great match. Boy, after the first set, he looked really ominous out there. Interesting to see what Murray has to offer.
samprallica , 1/17/12 4:05 AM
yikes, double bagel. nicely done, must say.
mriiidula , 1/17/12 4:11 AM
Djokovic looks ominous. I only saw the last few games but the scoreline tells it all.
nadline , 1/17/12 4:32 AM
The top three all doing well in the first round. Let's see how Murray performs. I think he has the most challenging first round opponent among the top four.
luckystar , 1/17/12 4:48 AM
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Here we go again....
AJDE NOLE !!!!
zare , 1/16/12 8:37 PM