Newly appointed Australia test opener Steve Smith showcased his tennis skills on Thursday by stepping onto the Australian Open court at Melbourne Park for a friendly match with tennis legend Novak Djokovic at the Rod Laver Arena. This exhibition match served as an exciting prelude to the Australian Open 2024, scheduled to commence on January 12. Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Coco Gauff, Maria Sakkari, Jessica Pegula, Stan Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem, Taylor Fritz, and Alexander Zverev are also in the event.
Known primarily for his cricket achievements, Smith astonished spectators by flawlessly returning one of Djokovic’s serves on Centre Court. Even the seasoned tennis champion acknowledged Smith’s skills, bowing down in admiration amidst resounding applause from the enthusiastic crowd.
As the defending champion at the Australian Open, Djokovic is gearing up for his opening match against a qualifier or lucky loser, with potential matchups against Australian contenders Marc Polmans or Alexei Popyrin in the subsequent rounds. Djokovic, with three major victories in the previous season, enters the tournament on a remarkable 28-match winning streak at the season’s inaugural major, boasting a total of 24 major titles.
Simultaneously, Steve Smith is preparing for the upcoming home Test series against the West Indies, starting on January 17. In a strategic move following David Warner’s retirement from Test cricket, Smith is set to open the innings, partnering with Usman Khawaja, adding an intriguing dimension to Australia’s Test line-up.
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