Fuming Frenchman Jeremy Chardy accused a chair umpire of making "the biggest mistake of the Australian Open" Thursday, asking her: "Are you looking at the birds? The clouds?"

Defending champion Novak Djokovic blasted past Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in emphatic fashion Monday to ominously kick off his bid for an unprecedented ninth Australian Open title.

The 31-year-old Novak Djokovic had to contend with a more stubborn Chardy in the second set.

Novak Djokovic reached his first title match for a year with a straight sets win over Jeremy Chardy at Queen's Club.

Nicolas Almagro withdrew from the Australian Open due to a calf injury when he was 0-4 down in the first set against France's Jeremy Chardy, but walked away with a Aus $50,000 (USD 37,400) cheque as a first-round loser

Leander Paes-Jeremy Chardy proved to be no match to Austria's Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin of France, going down 2-6, 4-6 in the first round.

Leander Paes and Jeremy Chardy suffered a 2-6 3-6 defeat to to defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan.

Juan Martin Del Potro dispatched fifth seed Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-3 in the Delray Beach quarter-finals.

Leader Paes and Jeremy Chardy staged a strong comeback to register a 6-3, 4-6, 10-6 victory over Marcel Granollers and Sam Groth.

Juan Martin del Potro entered the ATP Delray Beach Open as a wildcard. This was his only the second match of his comeback after sitting out for nearly a year.