Novak Djokovic makes winning return to the Australian Open as he beats Roberto Carballes Baena

Novak Djokovic received a hero’s welcome when he returned to the Australian Open with a straight-set win over Roberto Carballes Baena.

Rod Laver Arena was littered with Serbian flags in support of the nine-time champion, who was playing his first match of the 2023 tournament at Melbourne Park following last year’s vaccine-related deportation.

Appearances he had made at the warm-up event in Adelaide and at a charity coup with Nick Kyrgios on Friday had indicated that would be the case, with all parties apparently happy to move on from one of tennis’s least edifying chapters.

Novak Djokovic has reached the second round of the Australian Open with a two-set victory

Djokovic’s fans chanted his name as he walked onto the court and during a routine 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 win over Spaniard Carballes Baena.

“Amazing atmosphere, thank you very much for staying,” Djokovic told the crowd. ‘Thank you for giving me such a welcoming reception that I could only dream of.

‘I’m very happy to be back in Australia and back on this pitch. I couldn’t ask for a better start to the tournament.’

The main question mark before the match had been the condition of Djokovic’s left hamstring, which was strained in Adelaide and continues to cause him problems.

He was tightly bound, and there were moments when he looked awkward, but he moved well and hit the ball with his usual sharpness from the baseline, finishing the game with 41 winners.

Carballes Baena, ranked 75th, offered plenty of resistance in the first two sets, with Djokovic having to rally from 0-40 at 2-2. But that turned out to be the only real moment he was on the defensive and he raced into the third set, dropping just four points.

The 35-year-old returned to Melbourne Park for the first time since his deportation ordeal.

Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev picked up the first win of his comeback in grueling fashion, beating Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas 4-6 6-1 5-7 7-6(3) 6-4.

The 12th-seeded German was playing only his third match since suffering an ankle injury in a fall during his French Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal last June.

“I am extremely happy because I missed this in the last seven months,” Zverev said.

‘This match alone is worth all the hard work and suffering I’ve had. Winning again in front of this kind of crowd… I can’t wait for the rest of the tournament. Whatever happens from now on, the tournament is already a success for me.

Djokovic received a warm welcome from fans who had been warned that they risked being sent off if they chose to boo the nine-time Australian Open winner.

Alex De Minaur is now Australia’s great hope after the retirement of Nick Kyrgios and a comfortable 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over Hsu Yu-hsiou.

“I know what is required of me,” said the 23-year-old. ‘I know sometimes I have some pressure on myself to deliver. I take it with pride ultimately.

Former finalist Dominic Thiem continues to find things difficult nearly a year after returning from a serious wrist injury and losing 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to fifth seed Andrey Rublev.

Eighth seed Taylor Fritz dropped a set against Nikoloz Basilashvili but rallied to win 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, while exciting young Dane Holger Rune posted a 6-seed victory. 2, 6-3, 6-4 over Filip Krajinovic.