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Native hero Thanasi Kokkinakis has crashed out of his hometown Adelaide Worldwide after struggling a first-round loss to Serbian party-crasher Dusan Lajovic.
Key factors:
The defeat means Kokkinakis will enter the Australian Open winless since final OctoberThe South Australian turned error-ridden within the second setIn the meantime, Australia’s Daria Saville has claimed her greatest win in virtually 18 months on the Hobart Worldwide
Lajovic overcame an detached begin to elevate his play because the evening wore on and depart the Memorial Drive crowd disillusioned after successful 3-6 6-1 6-4.
The defeat means Kokkinakis will enter the Australian Open winless since final October. He then missed the Davis Cup Finals with an ankle damage earlier than struggling an opening-round loss to countryman Rinky Hijikita in his return in Brisbane final week.
Kokkinakis introduced himself together with his thrilling, emotional trip to the 2022 Adelaide title as a wildcard, which included a dramatic final-set tiebreak to beat Marin Cilic within the semifinals, however his goals of replicating that feat ended on Monday, Lajovic’s superior consistency from the again of the court docket telling.
Kokkinakis performed with authority early, his first serve nearly impenetrable within the opening set earlier than Lajovic finally figured it out.
The South Australian unleashed a thunderous return to safe the primary break of the match and take a 3-1 lead earlier than impressively taking the opening set when the Serb pushed a backhand lengthy.
However the skilled Lajovic, who surprised legendary compatriot Novak Djokovic on the Bosnian clay final yr, was not going to be a pushover.
Kokkinakis turned error-riddled within the second set, seemingly troubled by the softness of the balls, and he was made to pay by Lajovic.
After the South Aussie miscued a forehand to concede his serve within the fourth sport, Lajovic broke once more within the sixth sport — this time to like — earlier than drilling a crosscourt forehand winner to ship the match into a 3rd set.
Kokkinakis fell behind a break within the decider earlier than breaking again three video games later with a crowd-pleasing, down-the-line forehand winner.
He continued to guide his followers on a rollercoaster trip when he dug his method out of a 0-40 deficit to carry and transfer forward 4-3.
Lajovic responded with a tense maintain earlier than breaking Kokkinakis once more, then serving it out clinically, sealing victory with an enormous forehand.
Lajovic will play the winner of Tuesday’s match between seventh seed Jiri Lehecka and Australian qualifier Adam Walton within the spherical of 16.
In the meantime, Australia’s Daria Saville has claimed her greatest win in virtually 18 months, toppling Russian world No.46 Anna Blinkova within the opening spherical of the Hobart Worldwide.
It’s a massive increase for the 29-year-old forward of the Australian Open — Saville was contentiously granted the ultimate discretionary wildcard forward of the nation’s highest-ranked girl, Arina Rodionova.
Saville, who returned to the tour in June after struggling a severe knee damage, got here from behind to topple Blinkova 3-6 6-4 6-4 on Monday evening.
Blinkova is the highest-ranked participant Saville has overwhelmed since she ousted then-world No.7 Jessica Pegula at Washington DC’s Citi Open in August 2022.
It’s simply the second time she has overwhelmed a prime 50 participant since coming back from damage.
Saville will face both 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin or Belgium’s Greet Minnen within the second spherical.
AAP
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