Djokovic survives scare as young contender announces himself on big stage
By Marc McGowan
The result was expected, but the journey there was absolutely not.
Novak Djokovic, whose record-breaking 10 Australian Open titles have made him the undisputed king of Melbourne Park, is still in contention for this year’s tournament but not before surviving a hell of a scare.
Novak Djokovic and Dino Prizmic meet at the net after their unexpectedly tight first-round encounter.Credit: Getty Images
The world No.1 briefly misplaced his invincibility cloak before storming home to defeat Croatian prodigy Dino Prizmic – last year’s French Open boys’ champion and half his opponent’s age – 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 and booking his second-round spot.
“He deserved every applause, every credit he got tonight. He’s an amazing player, so mature for his age, and he handled himself on the court incredibly well,� Djokovic said on court afterwards of Prizmic.
“This is his moment, honestly, and could easily have been his match as well – he was a break up in the third … he showed great mentality and resilience, and he made me really run for my money tonight, that’s for sure.
“Honestly, I have many, many praises for him, many compliments … he’s using every inch of the court. He’s comfortable to come in and defending really well. It was just an amazing performance for someone 18 years old, who never had the experience of playing on a big stage.
“Big kudos to him and his team, to his family, and I certainly want to be in his corner, so hopefully he will invite me because he is going to make some big things in his career. We are going to see a lot of him in the future.�
It was the first set Djokovic has lost in the opening round in Melbourne since 2020, when Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff pushed him to four sets, and the longest at this stage of a slam in his career at one minute beyond four hours.
He awaits the winner of the all-Australian affair between Alexei Popyrin and Marc Polmans.
The 24-time major winner has routinely schooled the ATP Tour’s young bucks in a career that promises to have him in pole position as the greatest men’s player by the time he eventually retires, but the kids are starting to make a ruckus.
Novak Djokovic in action against Dino Prizmic.Credit: Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz stunned Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final, Jannik Sinner trumped the super Serb twice in 12 days late in 2023, and Holger Rune has won two of his five meetings with Djokovic as well.
This time, it was 18-year-old qualifier Prizmic’s turn to test the defending champion’s mettle.
For 42 minutes, Djokovic – coached by Croatia’s best-ever player, Goran Ivanisevic – toyed with his prey and the script was going to plan, including Prizmic seeking the trainer after only five games for treatment and strapping on his left quadriceps.
Prizmic showed flashes of his ability in the first set, then went to another level in the second, prompting American legend John McEnroe, commentating the match for Channel Nine, to predict he would be ranked in the 50s by year’s end.
The world No.178 caned a cross-court forehand winner past Djokovic – clocked at a ridiculous 160km/h – to take a shock 3-1 lead, and stuck at his task even once his vastly more experienced rival broke straight back.
Blessed with tree trunks for legs, Prizmic kept boldly aiming at the lines with booming ground strokes and won a series of gruelling rallies as he impressively sent the second set to a tiebreaker.
Even Nick Kyrgios was moved enough to tweet “Prizmic got game� – and that was before the Croat levelled the match at a set-all. Those pressure situations are usually when Djokovic thrives, but it was Prizmic who played the steadier tennis, and one more wayward forehand from the top seed sealed the set for the teenager.
Djokovic uncharacteristically committed 16 unforced errors in that set alone, yet at least some of that owes to the perceived pressure from the other end of the court.
The fun was far from over, even after Djokovic jumped to a 2-0 lead in the third set and appeared to have restored order.
Prizmic displayed maturity beyond his years to hang tough in another engrossing rally and remarkably grab back the break, then outlasted Djokovic in a seven-deuce fifth game to break him once more.
Suddenly, the kid who was supposed to be trampled was genuinely in front in the contest. Was the king about to be dethroned in the most unexpected of circumstances?
Djokovic was repeatedly disgusted at his misses, and grew increasingly frustrated with fans re-entering Rod Laver Arena before the change of ends.
But predictably, on a mostly unpredictable night, Djokovic ensured he would not lose in the opening round for the first time since 2006, when he was the 18-year-old up-and-comer.
He reeled off eight games in a row to win the third set and charge 4-0 up in the fourth, only for the ever-impressive Prizmic to lift once more and take back one of the breaks.
Djokovic still prevailed, eventually – but a star was born.
Watch the Australian Open live and free on the Nine Network with every match streaming live on 9Now and ad-free on Stan Sport.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.