Djokovic reportedly asked for reduced isolation periods and having players in hard quarantine moved to "private houses with tennis courts", drawing a backlash from Australians.
My good intentions for my fellow competitors in Melbourne have been misconstrued as being selfish, difficult and ungrateful.
Kenin won her maiden Grand Slam in Melbourne last year which set the American on course to break into the top 10 and claim the WTA Player of the Year award.
I definitely think I can talk to Novak... I think that will be helpful since we're both defending champions.
Spain's 20-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, ranked second, was the only player who had a chance to stop the Serbian from finishing as the top-ranked player in 2020..
"Pete was somebody I looked up to when I was growing up, so to match his record is a dream come true" Djokovic said.
The 33-year-old was rarely extended by his 153rd-ranked opponent and even found time to double up as a court sweeper when the match was briefly interrupted by rain.
The 33-year-old Serb won the first set in 28 minutes and when he broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set a rare 'triple bagel' looked a possibility.
An on-and-off drizzle at Foro Italico, which included a smattering of fans, added to Djokovic's frustration but he still found a way past Schwartzman's serve to draw level at 3-3.
The top seed stepped up the intensity to break Schwartzman's serve twice before serving out the match comfortably to seal victory -- clinching it with a drop shot.
Thiem took part in the Belgrade leg of the exhibition event organised by Djokovic where social distancing was minimal and matches were played in front of thousands of fans.
Thiem, who left for an exhibition tournament in his native France after Belgra
For while the images from the Adria Tour exhibition tournament in Serbia and Croatia were no doubt a fillip for some fans starved of top-flight tennis action.
"There were a fair few learnings that have come out of that (Adria Tour)," Tennis Australia'