Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev hit Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night. Two great friends embraceda charity match and enjoyed their time on the court, entertaining the crowd and each other. They played one set, and Novak took it 8-6 in the tie break after a thriller.
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We saw many great shots from the top-10 stars and an entertaining conversation during and after the match that lasted 53 minutes. The ten-time Australian Open champion also enjoyed the wheelchair tennis and played the mixed doubles against his coach, Andy Murray.
In the main event of the night, Djokovic and Zverev stayed neck and neck during their battle. The German made a great start, earning an early break and leading 4-2. The Serb pulled the break back in game eight and prevailed in a tie break.
The veteran missed a volley in the first game of the match, losing serve and falling behind. Zverev closed the second game with a booming serve, cementing the break and moving 2-0 in front. Novak held at love in the third game with an ace, adding his name tothe scoreboard.
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Alexander landed another unreturned serve in the fourth game, opening a 3-1 gap. World no. 2 missed a backhand in the sixth game and faced three break points. He denied them and cracked a backhand down the line winner for a 4-2 lead.
The most decorated player in the Australian Open history held at love in game seven and made a push on the return in the next one. He landed a drop shot winner for a break point and claimed an entertaining point to pull the break back and lock the result at 4-4.
Djokovic fired a service winner in the ninth game and opened a 5-4 advantage. Zverev provided a hold at love in game ten to extend the battle. The Serb held at 30 in the 11th game, and the German introduced a tie break with a hold at love a few minutes later.
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World no. 2 landed a forehand crosscourt return winner in the first point for a mini-break. He scored another in the fourth point after Djokovic's forehand mistake. The Serb missed a drop shot in the sixth point to find himself 4-2 behind.
The veteran reduced the deficit with a mini-break in the seventh point and painted a backhand down the line winner at 4-4 to move in front. Novak earned two match points when Alexander's crafty volley refused to pass the net.
Zverev saved them and climbed back to 6-6. Djokovic fired a service winner for 7-6 and his third match point. He converted it after the rival's backhand error, celebrating a win after an entertaining battle.
