Adelaide International final Novak Djokovic vs Sebastian Korda, Naomi Osaka withdraws from Australian Open, USA wins United Cup final vs Italy

An “irritated” Novak Djokovic was left staring down the barrel of a shocking five-year first, dropping the opening set of the Adelaide International final to American young gun Sebastian Korda.

Djokovic has won 33 consecutive matches played in Australia – the nation where he has found the most success throughout his career including a record nine Australian Open titles.

The Serbian’s last loss on Australian soil was in the fourth round of the 2018 Australian Open when he was stunned by Korean Hyeon Chung – a loss which he partially credited to an elbow injury which then required surgery.

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In Adelaide on Sunday evening, Korda earned seven set points – and managed to save two as well – before finally claiming the set 7-6(8).

Serving to stay in the match at 5-6 in the second set, Djokovic led 15-0 before a double-fault sent him on his way to 15-30.

After an ace, a lengthy rally saw Djokovic forced to send a cross-court shot just wide – it was challenged unsuccessfully – giving Korda his first match point. The Serb saved it with a dominant rally, keeping Korda on the back foot before a smash to seal the point.

Djokovic won the next two points to send the second set into a tiebreak, calling for noise from a crowd filled with plenty of Serbian support.

The pair traded mini-breaks to open the tiebreak before Djokovic won five consecutive points and eventually levelled the match at a set-all, 7-6(3).

Korda was the first to face difficulty in the deciding set, needing to save two break points at 2-1, but the 22-year-old was able to do just that.

This is Djokovic’s first tournament back in Australia since being deported ahead of the 2022 Australian Open over an attempt to use a medical exemption to enter the country because he was (and is) not vaccinated against Covid-19.

Djokovic is the strong favorite to win a 10th Australian Open crown especially after world No.1 and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to injury.

Heading into Sunday’s final Djokovic was 101-10 all-time in Australia.

USA CLAIMS INAUGURAL UNITED CUP

Tournament favourites USA have claimed the first edition of the United Cup after taking an insurmountable 3-0 lead over Italy.

Taylor Fritz secured the crown for the Americans after fighting past Matteo Berrettini 7-6(4) 7-6(6) at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena.

It followed Lorenzo Musetti retiring hurt after losing the opening set of his match with Frances Tiafoe 6-2, and Australian Open dark horse Jessica Pegula easing past Martina Trevisan 6-4 6-2.

MISSING AUS OPEN CHAMP’S CAREER ‘UNCERTAIN’ AFTER SHOCK WITHDRAWAL

There are serious questions over the career of Naomi Osaka after she withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open.

The location of the two-time champion, who loves hard courts, has been a mystery to tournament organisers for weeks and they finally got the news they were dreading on Sunday.

The 25-year-old has not played since September, when she withdrew from her home tournament in Tokyo, which followed a first-round exit from the US Open.

“Just two years removed from her second title there (in Melbourne) — her fourth Slam title overall — the outlook for Naomi’s career is uncertain,” long-time tennis writer Ben Rothenberg said.

The Japanese was replaced in the main draw by Dayana Yastremska, who was infamously banned for doping before the 2021 event won by Osaka.

DJOKOVIC’S INJURY SCARE AS TEEN’S STUNNING SURGE CONTINUES

An intense Novak Djokovic brushed aside Daniil Medvedev on Saturday to set up an Adelaide International final against Sebastian Korda and played down injury concerns after appearing to tweak his hamstring.

The top seed, who has an ominous 22-1 record since September, was breathtaking at times as he cruised past the former world number one Russian 6-3, 6-4 in preparation for the Australian Open, where he is a nine-time champion.

In the women’s draw, unheralded Czech teenager Linda Noskova stunned world number two Ons Jabeur 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, with the qualifier into her first-ever final against second seed Aryna Sabalenka.

World number five Djokovic broke in both sets on Medvedev double-faults before lifting his intensity to storm home.

But he had a scare in the first set, clutching his left hamstring as he attempted to reach for a Medvedev cross-court forehand. He continued but then took a medical timeout.

“Thankfully nothing too serious, if it was I wouldn’t be able to continue,” he said.

“I just tried with some anti-inflammatories and it kind of settled in after a few games.

“I was just trying to keep the momentum going and don’t allow him to break my serve. The longer the match went my hamstring was warmer, I guess, and bothering me less.

“Hopefully for tomorrow it will be all fine,” he added.

Unseeded Korda, son of former world number two Petr Korda, was in charge 7-6 (7/5), 1-0 of his match when Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka called for a medical timeout for treatment in his upper right leg before pulling out of the match.

Elsewhere, 18-year-old Noskova had already upset two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka en route to the semis and carried that into her clash with Jabeur in only her sixth tour-level event.

“I don’t think either of us played 100 percent and I’m glad I got that last point to win, just really glad to play like this,” said the world number 102.

“I’m just going for it 100 percent all the time, just trying to push through.”

Jabeur had treatment on a lower back problem at 2-5 in the first set, but she bounced back to easily take the second before struggling in the third.

Sabalenka surged into the final by crushing Romanian veteran Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6-2.

FULL ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE

Aryna Sabalenka def Linda Noskova 6-3 7-6(4)