Novak Djokovic Overcomes Challenge from 18-Year-Old Opponent in Australian Open First Round

Novak Djokovic, the 24-time grand slam champion, faced an unexpected test in the opening round of the Australian Open against Croatian newcomer Dino Prizmic. Despite initial expectations of an easy start for Djokovic, who aims to secure a record-breaking 25th grand slam title, the match turned into a thrilling encounter on Sunday.

The Serbian tennis icon ultimately secured victory in four sets—6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4—but not without a formidable challenge from the 18-year-old Prizmic. Djokovic acknowledged the unexpected intensity of the match, jokingly noting, “When you think about it, I’m double his age. Reality hits hard tonight, but I’m really trying to enjoy every moment on the court. I struggled in many different moments tonight, but it’s credit to him.”

Prizmic, making his grand slam main draw debut after successfully navigating through qualifying, displayed impressive resilience against the 10-time Australian Open champion. While Djokovic took an early lead in the first set, the Croatian, 2023 French Open junior champion, showcased remarkable composure, winning a tense second-set tiebreak to level the scores. Prizmic further amplified the pressure by breaking Djokovic’s serve at the beginning of the third set.

Despite the teenager gaining momentum, Djokovic, who had previously encountered a minor injury, found his rhythm and clinched the third set. The 36-year-old appeared on course for a comfortable victory in the fourth set, leading 4-0, but Prizmic elevated his performance once again. Winning the next three games, the young Croatian applied late pressure on Djokovic, although it proved insufficient as the Serb secured the win after a match lasting just over four hours.

After the match, Djokovic commended Prizmic’s exceptional play, acknowledging the maturity and resilience displayed by the 18-year-old. The two players shared a respectful embrace at the net, with Djokovic leading applause for Prizmic’s impressive performance.

Djokovic is set to face either Alexei Popyrin or Marc Polmans in the second round on Wednesday.