Novak Djokovic survived a first-set scare on Monday to start his quest for an eleventh Australian Open title and report twenty fifth Grand Slam crown in shaky vogue.
The 37-year-old was flat-footed and out of concepts early on towards teenage American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy, who was making his Grand Slam foremost draw debut.
The 19-year-old surprised Djokovic by successful the primary set in entrance of a shocked Melbourne Park crowd.
However the Serbian slowly started to get his measure, battling by means of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 with new coach Andy Murray sitting quietly courtside on Rod Laver Area in one of many newly launched “teaching pods”.
The win put Djokovic into the second spherical in Melbourne for an 18th consecutive 12 months.
“On the finish it was nice however I believe he was the higher participant for a set-and-a-half,” mentioned seventh seed Djokovic. “He deserves each little bit of applause that he obtained.
“These form of matchups are at all times tough, harmful when you’re enjoying somebody who has nothing to lose. He’s a really full participant.”
The veteran appeared uncertain easy methods to deal with the athletic teen at first.
At 3-3 within the first set Djokovic left a lob that as an alternative landed in to present his opponent three break factors and the American transformed with a crosscourt backhand, to gasps from the group.
With Djokovic spraying photographs lengthy and broad, Basavareddy wrapped up a set by which the Serb made 11 unforced errors and didn’t convert any of the three break factors he labored.
The shock of going behind on a court docket he has lengthy owned awakened Djokovic and he clawed again within the second set, incomes his first break to go 5-3 forward and serving out to stage the match, roaring in elation.
The American wanted therapy on his left leg on the changeover and wasn’t the identical participant afterwards as Djokovic twisted the knife and raced to victory.
Djokovic employed long-time rival Murray, who retired final 12 months, to assist him get again to successful methods after a lean 2024 the place he failed to gather a serious for the primary time since 2017.
Whereas he earned Olympic gold, the Slams have been dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic is adamant he can nonetheless compete with the world’s finest however his struggles towards a participant ranked 107 did little to dispel any doubts.
He’ll subsequent play Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria in his bid to win another Slam and surpass Margaret Courtroom’s 24 as one of the best ever.
Ought to he go all the way in which, it is going to be his a hundredth profession title, simply the third man within the Open period to achieve the milestone behind Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).
