Novak Djokovic has lost his first official match of the 2023 season, as he and Vasek Pospisil have withdrawn from the Adelaide International doubles event. On Monday, Djokovic and Pospisil played their first doubles match at the Adelaide International.
In a very close duel, Djokovic and Pospisil lost 1-0 to Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar, who won 4-6, 6-3, 10-5. Djokovic and Pospisil, who have been good friends for many years, made their debut as a couple in Adelaide.
Unfortunately for them, they did not add victories. In the first game of the match, Djokovic and Pospisil had a break point but Brkic and Escobar managed to save it. Djokovic and Pospisil did not get a break in the first game of the match, but they did in the third.
After getting an early break, Djokovic and Pospisil did not face a single break point in the remainder of the first set and that was how they won the first set. Brkic and Escobar rallied in the second set and recorded their first break of the match in the fourth game to move up 3-1.
In the fifth game, Brkic and Escobar saved four break points to open up a 4-1 lead. At 5-2, Brkic and Escobar had two set points on serve from Djokovic and Pospisil, but failed to convert them and Djokovic and Pospisil managed to cut the deficit to 5-3.
In the ninth game, Djokovic and Pospisil had a break point but failed to make it as Brkic and Escobar managed to send the match to a decider. In the tie-break of the match, Djokovic and Pospisil held a 4-3 lead before Brkic and Escobar won five straight points to move ahead 8-4.
There was no turning back for Djokovic and Pospisil, as Brkic and Escobar converted their first match point to complete the comeback.
Nole Djokovic wants to make history
Novak Djokovic recently landed in Australia, nearly a year after his highly publicized visa debacle that saw him deported from the country Down Under due to his unvaccinated status.
“Good to see Novak Djokovic back on court in Australia. After all, he finished 2022 as the best player on the planet, arguably the most complete athlete in the world and, as a person, with a holistic approach and generosity of spirit which is often overlooked.
Welcome back Novak,” Paul McNamee wrote on his social media. “I’m hoping he can get it. For me, he’s a person of principle. Not everyone agrees with what his position is, but he stands by his word and missed two grand slams this year.
That’s a lot to miss when you’re one off winning the most Grand Slams, so I respect it and I hope he is well received,” he said.
