Australian Open

2008

Second Round:

In the second round, Novak Djokovic faced Simone Bolelli, a match that he won convincingly in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Djokovic's performance was solid, though he acknowledged some areas for improvement. "It's always good to start a Grand Slam with two straight-set wins. I didn't want to underestimate anybody, even my opponent today, even though I knew that, you know, he didn't play a lot of professional matches in ATP and ITF Grand Slam events," Djokovic said.

Despite the straightforward scoreline, Djokovic admitted to making too many unforced errors and experiencing some inconsistencies with his serve. "It wasn't really such a nice match for the audience to see. It was a lot of mistakes, and on my side, as well. You know, looking at the results, you thought, you know, I won easy. I did, but I made some -- too much unforced errors and maybe a little bit my serve was going up and down," he explained. These self-critical observations highlighted Djokovic's relentless drive for perfection and his awareness of the need to refine his game as the tournament progressed.

Djokovic's readiness for the upcoming matches was evident. "Physically, I feel pretty good. I had a long season last year, so I was trying to rest and prepare well so I can get fit for the Australian Open," he noted. His strategic approach involved not underestimating any opponent, regardless of their ranking or experience, which was crucial for maintaining his momentum.