Serbia’s Novak Djokovic is congratulated by Croatia’s Dino Prizmic following their first spherical match on the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia on January 14, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Till he took on defending champion Novak Djokovic at Rod Laver Enviornment in Australia, Dino Prizmic had by no means performed a Grand Slam match.
The 18-year-old Croatian qualifier, who was born seven months after Djokovic made his Grand Slam debut in 2005, made it final so long as he may, unsettling the 24-time main winner at occasions earlier than Djokovic completed off the match 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.
The primary set performed out nearly as anticipated. From there, it turned fairly a experience.
Prizmic took the second set off Djokovic and went up a break within the third, gorgeous a capability crowd, earlier than the world’s No. 1-ranked participant broke again and took the set.
Prizmic did not surrender when he trailed 4-0 within the fourth, both, saving a breakpoint earlier than getting a service break again. He saved three match factors at 5-3 down and made Djokovic serve it out. He then saved an additional two match factors earlier than it led to 4 hours and 1 minute.
“He deserved each applause, each credit score he acquired tonight,” Djokovic mentioned. “Superb efficiency for somebody that’s 18 years previous and by no means had the expertise of taking part in on a giant stage. Kudos to him.”
The primary of three Sundays — an additional day was launched at Melbourne Park to attempt to scale back the variety of post-midnight finishes — did not have fairly the specified end result.
Fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev wanted 4 hours to beat Thiago Seyboth Wild 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (6). He later admitted fears his first-round match towards Seyboth Wild would finish like his buddy Daniil Medvedev’s did finally yr’s French Open: in an upset.
No. 12 Taylor Fritz wanted a medical timeout to get his left ankle taped within the second set earlier than he recovered to beat Facundo Diaz Acosta 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in a seesawing four-hour match.
Girls’s event
Djokovic’s match completed after 11 p.m., making for a late begin for defending ladies’s champion Aryna Sabalenka.
The primary match on Rod Laver was over rapidly, with Italy’s Davis Cup star Jannik Sinner advancing after a 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 first-round win over No. 59-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp in 2 1/2 hours. It was his first match since a memorable November when he twice beat Djokovic and gained the Davis Cup.
“Means lots to me to start out off with a win,” fourth-seeded Sinner mentioned in a post-match TV interview as a half-dozen followers wearing carrot costumes cheered from the stands. “Bodily, I really feel good. I’m right here in good condition. I believe I may be completely happy for at present.”
Girls’s eighth seed Maria Sakkari admitted her reduction after she beat Nao Hibino of Japan 6-4, 6-1, her first Grand Slam win since final yr’s Australian Open.
“I misplaced three first rounds in my final three Grand Slams,” she mentioned. “For me, it was a really tough match at present emotionally. I’m completely happy I managed to do the job proper and play a superb second set.”
Additionally advancing had been 2021 U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, who beat 17-year-old Sara Bejlek 7-6 (5), 6-2 and No. 9 Barbora Krejcikova, who rallied from a set and a break all the way down to beat Mai Hontama 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Two 16-year-old gamers superior to the second spherical: Brenda Fruhvirtova recorded her first Grand Slam win, overcoming Anna Bogdan 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 and Alina Korneeva — the Australian Open junior champion final yr — who rallied to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
One other Russian qualifier, Maria Timofeeva had a 6-2, 6-4 win over Alize Cornet, who was showing in a ladies’s report 68th consecutive Grand Slam occasion.
Timofeeva will subsequent face 2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki, who in her first Australian Open since changing into a mother superior when Twentieth-seeded Magda Linette retired whereas trailing 6-2, 2-0.
Amanda Anisimova continued her comeback from a profession break with a 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 13-seeded Liudmila Samsonova.
Rublev did it powerful, losing 4 match factors within the twelfth sport of the fifth set. He fell behind 5-2 within the match tiebreaker earlier than regaining his composure, profitable eight of the following 9 factors to clinch it.
He slumped to the bottom, then acquired up rapidly, embraced Seyboth Wild, who was making his debut within the Australian Open foremost draw, and roared triumphantly.
Seyboth Wild upset main winner Medvedev within the first spherical at Roland Garros final yr and Rublev admitted he felt the momentum going the identical means earlier than he determined to calm down and go for broke.
“For certain, I cannot neglect this one,” mentioned Rublev, who opened the yr with a title in Hong Kong. “Thiago is a brilliant harmful participant. Tremendous proficient. He’s hitting so arduous, so clear.”
