Novak Djokovic survived a huge scare on the opening day of the Australian Open as the defending men’s champion held off the challenge of 18-year-old qualifier Dino Prizmic.
The 10-time Australian Open winner, who is targeting a record 25th grand slam title in Melbourne this month, was forced to produce his best tennis in a physical match by an inspired opponent as Djokovic battled to a 6-2 6-7 6-3 6-4 win in just over four hours - the longest first-round match Djokovic has ever played at a grand slam.
But there was more than a hint of an upset on the cards as the underdog Prizmic, ranked 178th world, broke Djokovic to lead the match midway through the third set. From there, the 36-year-old responded in typically clinical style - winning the next eight games in a row to dismiss his young challenger as he finally got over the line.
Aryna Sabalenka then began the defence of her Australian Open title with a 53-minute drubbing of German teenager Ella Seidel. Sabalenka’s encounter with an 18-year-old qualifier could not have been more different to DJokovic’s, with the Belarusian completing a 6-0 6-1 victory.
Britain’s Jodie Burrage was unable to build on a good start as her Australian Open debut ended with a first-round loss to German Tamara Korpatsch, however, with the British number two losing the last seven games in a 2-6 6-3 6-0 defeat.
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