Melbourne, Jan 16 (IANS) Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic made a strong comeback to defeat Donald Young of the United States 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of the men’s singles competition at the Australian Open tennis tournament here on Tuesday.

After more than six months on the sidelines due to an elbow injury, the current World No.14 needed only one hour and 51 minutes to earn his third career win over Young in as many matches, reports Efe.

The easy win shows how Djokovic’s elbow injury, which forced him to end his 2017 season in July, seems to be a thing of the past.

In his bid for his seventh Australian Open title, Djokovic is scheduled to take on Gael Monfils of France in the second round.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed, had to sweat a little more to earn a place in the second round.

The 20-year-old Zverev defeated Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano 6-1, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 in two hours and 22 minutes.

Zverev, a two-time ATP Masters champion, is scheduled to play against Peter Gojowczyk of Germany, who defeated Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan in straight sets.

Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka had a victorious comeback after undergoing surgery last season.

The 2014 Australian Open champion defeated Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2).

Wawrinka is set to play the Tennys Sandgren of the US in the second round.

Later in the day, Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro qualified for the second round after beating Frances Tiafoe of the United States 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Fully recovered from a left-wrist injury, which forced him to undergo several surgeries that sidelined him for months, the 29-year-old needed two hours and 14 minutes to seal his first win in Melbourne since 2014.

Del Potro, world No. 10, is due to meet Russia’s Karen Khachanov, who had a 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory over Peter Polansky of Canada.

World No.5 Dominic Thiem, meanwhile, defeated Guido Pella of Argentina 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 15 minutes.

The 24-year-old Austrian is scheduled to square off against US Denis Kudla, who beat his compatriot Steve Johnson 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-7 (3-7), 2-6.

Seventh-seeded David Goffin got rid of Germany’s Matthias Bachinger 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 33 minutes.

The 27-year-old Belgian is to play Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who prevailed over Taro Daniel of Japan 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-0), 6-4, 6-1.

–IANS
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