Novak Djokovic edges Alexander Zverev at Rod Laver Arena showdown

Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev hit Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night. Two great friends embraced a 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.

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.

“Says the man with 24 Slams” 🏆

Zverev with the perfect response to Djokovic saying his forehand is “unfair” 😅 pic.twitter.com/cojg8dM1Sa

— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 9, 2025

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 to the scoreboard.

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…