Defending champion Novak Djokovic and qualifier Dino Prizmic did not disappoint the crowd on the Australian Open’s opening Sunday as both players made the first-round match a sensational one. Djokovic eventually fought hard to make a winning start to his bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Prizmic, but not before the #NextGenATP Croatian made an impressive debut on the Grand Slam stage. Prizmic who faced his childhood idol on his debut appearance saved six match points before Djokovic secured victory.
The 18-year-old Prizmic, who qualified for his first major main-draw appearance, performed admirably against the 24-time major winner, notably in the second and third sets of a four-hour, one-minute match, the longest first-round match of the World No.1 Djokovic’s career. Prizmic, ranked No.178 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, faced the veteran Serbian from the baseline and led 3-2 with a break in the third set.
Few could have predicted the enthralling battle that would ensue after Djokovic won an easy first set. But Prizmic hinted at what was to come when he broke Djokovic for the first time in the second set, taking a 3-1 lead, before keeping his nerve in the tie-break on his fourth set point. That set up a thrilling third set, which Djokovic won by winning four consecutive games but only after Prizmic rallied with a double break from 2-0 down.
Even when the result appeared to be a formality in the fourth set when the 36-year-old Serbian extended his run of games to a 4-0 lead, his young and energetic opponent refused to go quietly, breaking back and saving four match points in the ninth game to force the top seed to serve out victory. Djokovic’s previous longest match in a major first round was against Gael Monfils at the US Open in 2005 which lasted three hours and 57 minutes.
Prizmic deserved every applause, every credit that he got tonight, said Djokovic. He is an amazing player, so mature for his age, and handled himself incredibly well. This is his moment, honestly. It could easily have been his match as well. He was a break-up in the third, he fought even though he was 0-4, and a break point down in the fourth set. He fought well and showed great mentality and resilience. He really made me run for my money tonight, the Serbian added. Djokovic will face Alexei Popyrin or Marc Polmans in the second round.
