An error-strewn Novak Djokovic was totally examined Sunday by fearless teenage qualifier Dino Prizmic earlier than launching his by bid for an eleventh Australian Open and unprecedented twenty fifth Grand Slam crown in unconvincing vogue.
The Serbian celebrity struggled to impose himself in opposition to the assured Croat on Rod Laver Arena earlier than lastly taming the 18-year-old 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4 after a four-hour marathon.
While removed from his finest, the world No. 1 confirmed no signal of the precise wrist downside that hampered his build-up.
Djokovic surged to the title final 12 months with a three-set victory over this 12 months’s seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
If he does the identical once more, he’ll go Australian Margaret Court’s all-time Slam file and be a part of solely Court (Australian Open) and Rafael Nadal (French Open) in successful 11 occasions at a single main.
Victory stretched his file at Melbourne Park to 90-8 as he reached the second spherical for a seventeenth consecutive 12 months.
But he was troubled by Prizmic’s pace and booming baseline play, which pressured many uncharacteristic errors in a match many thought could be a cruise.
The Croat is the present French Open boys’ champion and he used the event to showcase his expertise, undaunted by a Grand Slam essential draw debut on Djokovic’s most profitable court docket.
He misplaced his opening service recreation, however held his subsequent two earlier than needing a medical timeout for a left thigh downside.
When he returned, Djokovic mercilessly moved him across the court docket to take the primary set in 42 minutes.
Undeterred, the Croat, along with his leg strapped, raced to a 3-1 lead within the second set, breaking Djokovic after he was hit with a time violation then belting an excellent cross-court winner.
The Serb received again on stage phrases nevertheless it went to a tie-break, the place Prizmic took cost, racing 6-2 clear. Djokovic saved three set factors however not a fourth.
Djokovic pulled 2-0 clear within the third set, just for Prizmic to maintain punching above his weight, successful the following three video games.
But the defending champion discovered a brand new wind, saving two break factors to carry for 4-3 earlier than closing out the set, roaring in delight as he did so.
He broke the tiring teenager instantly within the fourth set earlier than once more needing to repel a fightback.
Battling to the tip, Prizmic saved a number of match factors earlier than lastly succumbing, with Djokovic subsequent enjoying the winner of an all-Australian showdown between Marc Polmans and Alexei Popyrin.
Berrettini out injured
Fifth seed Andrey Rublev was vastly relieved after edging previous Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild in a fifth-set tie-break.
Rublev had in his thoughts his good good friend Daniil Medvedev’s exit to Seyboth Wild on the similar stage of the French Open final summer time and he trailed 4-1 within the deciding tie-break after seeing a two-set lead after which 4 match factors come and go.
But Rublev fought his approach again to clinch a 7-5 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-6 (10/6) victory after three hours and 42 minutes.
Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini was a casualty with out taking to the court docket, the Italian pulling out as his harm woes continued.
Berrettini had been as a result of face Stefanos Tsitsipas on Rod Laver Arena on Monday in one of many plum ties of the primary spherical.
But on Sunday afternoon match organizers introduced he had withdrawn with a proper foot harm, making it the fourth time within the final eight grand slam tournaments the place he has not been capable of play a match.
Berrettini has been changed within the draw by Belgian fortunate loser Zizou Bergs, who will tackle Tsitsipas.
Fourth seed Jannik Sinner, one of many favorites for the title following his stellar finish to 2023, started his marketing campaign with a straight-sets win over Botic van de Zandschulp.
Sinner, who beat Djokovic twice in a matter of days on the ATP Finals and Davis Cup in November, was a 6-4 7-5 6-3 winner on Rod Laver Arena.
The Italian didn’t play a warm-up match after his late end to final season and he mentioned: “I really feel like I began off really very well for the primary match.
Twelfth seed Taylor Fritz was twice a set right down to Facundo Diaz Acosta and wanted remedy after rolling his ankle however recovered to assert a 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-4 victory.
Former finalist Marin Cilic performed his first grand slam match because the U.S. Open in 2022 following knee surgical procedure however was crushed in 4 units by Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan.
Source: www.dailysabah.com