the seventy ranked Djokovic began his quest for a 100th ATP title with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Australian wild-card entry Rinky Hijikata. A win in Brisbane would be an ideal set-up for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne for the already 10-time Australian Open champion.
Djokovic said he would use a second meeting with rival-turned-coach Murray to make small tweaks in his game.
“I’m not looking to transform my game completely . . . I’m not going to be Giovanni (rising 21-year-old French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard) serving two first serves and coming in to the net,” Djokovic told Australian Associated Press.
“But I definitely am looking to improve, even if it’s the slightest percentage, every single shot that I have in my game, and maybe something that people don’t necessarily see is this court positioning,
Murray, in his often self-deprecating manner, couldn’t resist responding with a video on X, saying: “I’m taking on some huge slopes as you can see but no injuries just yet.” But the “huge slopes” looked more like a beginner’s bunny run.
the transition play, the tactics.”
