Tennis Unfiltered

Australian Open, Day 1: Is Djokovic fully fit? + Prizmic arrives, Berrettini withdraws and Anisimova returns

01.15.2024 - By Tennis UnfilteredPlay

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Novak Djokovic beat Dino Prizmic in four sets, the match of the day on the opening Sunday of the Australian Open - but is he fully fit? James asked him afterwards if he was suffering from a cold, and here is what he said.

"I am a bit under the weather last four, five days. You can probably judge by my voice," Djokovic said.

"Look, it is what it is. You just have to try to deal with it and get over it and accept the circumstances and try to make the most of it."

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Amanda Anisimova made a successful return to grand slam tennis on Sunday, downing No 13 seed Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets.

The American took seven months off last year citing burnout and mental health concerns, but says she is happy to be back.

"The most important thing is that I feel a lot more refreshed," Anisimova said.

"I'm enjoying practicing. I'm enjoying every second that I'm out there. Even when I was down today, I was still just enjoying the challenge.

"I'm just happy with how I feel coming back. I feel like I was very burned out while I was playing, and that really wasn't a nice feeling. Being able to just reset is really nice."

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Matteo Berrettini's rotten luck at grand slam continues after he was forced to withdraw before the first round with a foot injury.

It means the tie of the round - against Stefanos Tsitsipas - is off, but lucky loser Zizou Bergs will hope he can still provide entertainment against the Greek.

James interviewed him for inews.co.uk before he played Jack Draper at Wimbledon in 2022: https://inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/zizou-bergs-who-jack-draper-wimbledon-2022-opponent-name-why-zinedine-zidane-1710171

PLUS

Andre Agassi is back, but with an unpopular wingman

Alina Korneeva, 16, leads the charge of the Russian women

Andrey Rublev 'gives up' mentally but wins in five sets

Jodie Burrage is the first Brit up - and first Brit out

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