Djokovic comes by Prizmic take a look at in Melbourne opener

Novak Djokovic was dragged right into a dogfight by gifted teenager Dino Prizmic and needed to dig deep to open his Australian Open title defence with a 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 victory within the first spherical on Sunday.

The Serbian, who performed his first Australian Open a couple of months earlier than the Croatian qualifier was born in August 2005, initially seemed totally answerable for the competition on the Rod Laver Arena courtroom the place he has received 10 of his 24 Grand Slam titles.

Prizmic had already proven glimpses of the weapons he possesses and broke the highest seed with an excellent crosscourt winner early within the second set, forcing Djokovic to lift his recreation to interrupt straight again.

The 18-year-old world quantity 178, who want a medical timeout to get some strapping on his thigh early within the match, was a person remodeled, nonetheless, and stored up his stage to even up the competition within the tiebreak along with his third set level.

That merely set the tone for an enthralling third set wherein 36-year-old Djokovic was put beneath intense stress by his athletic opponent, making 20 unforced errors and dealing with six break factors.

Djokovic broke Prizmic initially however the teenager stored ripping large forehands and stayed with the world primary in a number of rallies to place the match again on serve earlier than breaking once more for a 3-2 lead after a 15-minute battle of a recreation.

It had been six years and 28 matches since Djokovic final misplaced a match on the Australian Open and he was not going to place that document in danger simply.

He regrouped, modified his shirt and received the subsequent 4 video games to take the set, pumping his fist and letting out an enormous roar in a tribute to the issues Prizmic had triggered him.

More than three hours of taking part in with the most effective gamers of all time began to take its toll on Prizmic and Djokovic drove dwelling his benefit to take his ninetieth win on the Australian Open in simply over 4 hours.

The subsequent problem to Djokovic’s bid for a document twenty fifth Grand Slam singles title will come from one in every of two Australians, Alexei Popyrin or Marc Polmans.

An extraordinary match concludes in essentially the most sporting style.

The previous and current of this recreation embraces and congratulates the longer term.

Novak goes by 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4, however younger Dino Prizmic leaves a long-lasting impression.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/E4ZfCb0JcX

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2024