NEW DELHI: Novak Djokovic overcame an early scare on Monday to launch his campaign for an 11th Australian Open title and a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam crown.
The 37-year-old Serbian faced a challenging start against American teenage wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy, who was making his Grand Slam main draw debut.
The 19-year-old stunned the Melbourne Park crowd by taking the first set, showcasing his composure and skill.
Djokovic, initially flat-footed and struggling for answers, gradually found his rhythm to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory under the watchful eye of his new coach, Andy Murray.
Murray, who retired last year, sat silently in one of the newly introduced ‘coaching pods’ at Rod Laver Arena. The win marked Djokovic’s 18th consecutive second-round appearance at the Australian Open.
Reflecting on the match, Djokovic admitted, “At the end it was great but I think he was the better player for a set-and-a-half,” said seventh seed Djokovic. “He deserves every bit of applause that he got.
“These kind of matchups are always tricky, dangerous when you are playing someone who has nothing to lose. He’s a very complete player.”
In the early stages, Djokovic appeared uncertain against the athletic Basavareddy.
At 3-3 in the first set, a misjudged lob landed in, giving the American three break points.
Basavareddy capitalized with a stunning crosscourt backhand, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Djokovic struggled with 11 unforced errors in the set and failed to convert any of his three break points, allowing Basavareddy to close out the opener. The setback appeared to jolt Djokovic into action.
In the second set, he broke to lead 5-3 and held serve to level the match, roaring in celebration. Basavareddy required treatment on his left leg during the changeover and was unable to maintain his earlier intensity.
Sensing an opportunity, Djokovic tightened his grip on the match, sealing a hard-fought victory.
The partnership with Murray represents a fresh chapter for Djokovic after a challenging 2024 season where he failed to win a major for the first time since 2017, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dominating the Grand Slams.
Although Djokovic captured Olympic gold, his struggles against a player ranked 107th in the world may raise questions about his ability to compete consistently with the current generation of stars.
Despite the shaky start, Djokovic remains determined to surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles.
He will face Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria in the second round.
