John McEnroe feels even Andy Murray was getting nervous for Novak Djokovic during his second-round match at the Australian Open after Jaime Faria took the second set.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has made a habit of being a slow starter at major tournaments in recent years.
Djokovic seemingly needs a few matches under his belt to get up to full speed, but it allows his lesser-ranked opponents to threaten a huge upset.
American teen Nishesh Basavareddy won the opening set against Djokovic in the first round before the Serbian came back to win the match 3-1.
Andy Murray is working with Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open
REUTERS
Djokovic avoided the same situation against Faria, but the Portuguese star levelled things up with an impressive tiebreak win to clinch the second set and level up the match.
The 37-year-old cut an agitated figure as he tried to figure out what went wrong and was seen regularly chatting with Murray on the sidelines, who attempted to reassure his former rival.
The conversations had a positive effect as Djokovic recomposed himself to comfortably win the next two sets and progress to the third round.
But McEnroe feels Faria’s display caused Murray some concern on where the match was heading after the second set.
“Djokovic was extremely frustrated. He was up a set and a break. It was cruise control,” he said on Eurosport.
“But Faria woke up and he started hitting the big ball. He’s a big boy. He’s probably six three, at least, maybe six four. He packs a punch.
“Andy Murray over there on the sideline, I think was starting to get a little nervous with what was going on. But, you know, this is the first Grand Slam event that Faria’s ever played. So I think in the third set, the nerves and the reality of the situation started to catch up to him.
“You look at those first two matches that Djokovic has had. He played passive already in the first round. Faria today, they’re both outside the top hundred and they played some incredible tennis.
Andy Murray was very active in the stands
REUTERS
“I think at the beginning of the third set, Djokovic was frustrated purely because of the level that they’re his opponent.
“And they’re you know, they’re playing with so much freedom because they they just can go for their shots, and really with nothing to lose, that’s where, you know, now with the coaching situation, you’ve got your coach right on this side of the court.
“You can have a little bit of a conversation. And perhaps he extended some of the rally, stayed in cross court.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Novak Djokovic was made to work to beat Jaime Faria
REUTERS
“That early part of the third, I think was hugely important. And once Djokovic got the third set, then he was kind of able to to run away with it.”
Djokovic will face No 26 seed Tomas Machac in the third round and is just two wins away from a potential quarter-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz.
The Spaniard has dropped just 12 games through his opening two matches of the tournament, winning both ties in straight sets.