Novak Djokovic avoids wildcard slip-up at Australian Open

Serbia's Novak Djokovic throws his racket at the ball during his second-round match against Japan's Tatsuma Ito at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. [AP Photo/Dita Alangkara]

Defending champion Novak Djokovic banished the ghosts of wildcards past by despatching Japan's Tatsuma Ito 6-1 6-4 6-2 to sail into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

The world number two was famously knocked out of the second round at Melbourne Park by Uzbek wildcard Denis Istomin three years ago in the upset of the tournament.