Australia batter Steve Smith is taken into account to one of many prime cricketers on the earth proper now nevertheless it was his tennis expertise that left everybody on the Rod Lever Area in Melbourne shocked. Smith was a part of a charity sport involving Novak Djokovic forward of the Australian Open and his expertise left even the 24-time Grand Slam winner shocked. Novak delivered a straight serve aimed toward Smith’s physique however the Australian cricketer confirmed good footwork to return the ball completely because it landed contained in the court docket. Novak was shocked by the ability Smith confirmed and he even gave him a small bow to indicate his appreciation.

Sport respects sport!

(And Novak is rather like the remainder of us in terms of Smudge…)@stevesmith49 • @DjokerNole • #AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/ioL8hjVSrF

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024

Djokovic additionally tried his hand in cricket however his efficiency was not as spectacular. He tried to hit the ball out the bottom however was left upset as he missed it fully. 

Djokovic was drawn Thursday in opposition to a qualifier or fortunate loser to start his bid for an eleventh Australian Open crown, and will meet fellow Grand Slam champion Andy Murray within the third spherical.

The Serbian, who has received 24 majors, defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in final 12 months’s last then added the French and US Open titles to his assortment.

Is it too late so as to add him to the take a look at squad?! From the sounds of it the selectors are open to making an attempt issues out…@DjokerNole • #AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/VAJq2KFShr

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024

However the 36-year-old will start his defence below an harm cloud after a wrist drawback hampered him on the United Cup, the place he misplaced to Australian Alex De Minaur.

Greek seventh seed Tsitsipas has a troublesome process to repeat his 2023 feat with former prime 10 Italian Matteo Berrettini his opening opponent and Djokovic a possible quarter-finalist.

Spanish world quantity two Carlos Alcaraz, the one man to beat Djokovic at a Slam final 12 months to win Wimbledon, will get his marketing campaign underway in opposition to French veteran Richard Gasquet.

Like Djokovic, third seed Daniil Medvedev, a Melbourne finalist in 2021 and 2022, drew a qualifier within the first spherical.

The Russian may face twenty seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime within the third spherical, with the Canadian going through a stern opening take a look at in opposition to former world quantity three Dominic Thiem.

(With AFP inputs)