Djokovic clobbers qualifier Krueger to reach second round

[January 15, 2019]  By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Top seed Novak Djokovic looked every inch the Australian Open favorite as he comfortably beat American qualifier Mitchell Krueger 6-3 6-2 6-2 to reach the second round on Tuesday.

Soaking up the Rod Laver Arena limelight, the Serb moved superbly in his Melbourne Park opener and hit 42 winners to wrap up the one-sided clash in little more than two hours.

Despite the scoreline, the 230th-ranked Krueger hardly disgraced himself and broke Djokovic in the third game of the first set.

That was as good as it got for the American, as Djokovic coasted to an easy victory. The Serb will continue his bid for a record seventh Australian Open title against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the man he beat for the 2008 trophy.

(Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts after winning the match against Mitchell Krueger of the U.S. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson