MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – As a first-time dad with a baby at home, Novak Djokovic could see merits in the tale of Serena Williams’ mid-match espresso that has been brewing in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
Hey, he reckons, why not open up the menu?
The No. 1 seeds in the men’s and women’s draws both had straight-set wins in their first-round matches on Tuesday. Djokovic shrugged off the effects of a cold to beat No. 116-ranked Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in his first Grand Slam match as a father, and Williams beat No. 106-ranked Alison Van Uytvanck 6-0, 6-4.
Williams, with five Australian titles in her collection of 18 majors, didn’t need anything to perk her up as she raced through the first set in 21 minutes. It was a vastly different story when she arrived in Australia, jet-lagged, this month to start her preparations for the season’s first major, and asked for a coffee during a Hopman Cup match in Perth.
She checked with the chair umpire and tournament referee first, because she didn’t know if she could order a brew. The coffee was served, and Williams rallied for a win.