Tag: Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic‘s quest for a record Grand Slam title continued in dramatic circumstances after fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti quit their Australian Open quarter-final match with an injury after taking a two-set lead at Melbourne Park.

Musetti’s retirement when leading 6-4 6-3 1-3 meant Djokovic pulled off a great escape at his most successful hunting ground, with the 10-times champion’s bid for a standalone 25^th  major to break the tie with Margaret Court still alive.

“I don’t know what to say, except that I feel really sorry for him and he was a far better player,” Djokovic said.

“I was on my way home tonight. These things happen in sport and it’s happened to me a few times, but being in quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, two sets to love up and being in full control, I mean it’s so unfortunate.

“I wish him a speedy recovery and he should have been the winner today, there’s no doubt.”

The 38-year-old Serb returned to action after an extended break following fourth-round opponent Jakub Mensik’s walkover on Sunday, and his freshness showed during a sharp start where he brought plenty of variety and grabbed an early break.

But some loose points thereafter allowed Musetti to level at 2-2 and the Italian then surged past Djokovic for the first time in the contest with an overhead shot before comfortably wrapping up the opening set on serve.

“My strategy worked very well for the first couple of games and then it changed completely,” Djokovic said.”I had four winners in the first two games and no unforced errors and then the rest of the match I had another four winners and probably 40 errors. That’s what Lorenzo does to you, makes you play when you think the point is finished.

“When you attack him you don’t know what to expect, whether it’s going to be a passing shot, a crosscourt or a short slice, or if he’s going to go full flat in your body or hit a looping ball to my weakest shot, which is overhead.

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“I tried my best … I wasn’t feeling the ball today the first couple of sets but that’s also due to his quality and his variety in the game. I’m extremely lucky to get to get through this one.”

Fiery winners from both flanks helped Musetti break in the opening game of the next set, and though the 23-year-old let the advantage slip immediately, he edged in front again and soon doubled his lead in the match, to leave Djokovic on the ropes.

Djokovic soldiered on following treatment for a foot blister and went 2-1 up with a break in the third, when it was Musetti’s turn to call the trainer to the court for what appeared like a right thigh issue.

Musetti looked to manage the problem and play on but he was far from 100% and threw in the towel a game later to gasps from the Rod Laver Arena crowd, handing Djokovic his 103rd match win at the tournament to eclipse Roger Federer’s mark.

Djokovic faces the winner of the quarter-final between defending champion Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton.

“I’m going to double my prayers tonight, for sure, and show gratitude to God for giving me this opportunity,” Djokovic said.

“I’m going to do my best in a couple of days to use it … Today I wasn’t happy with my performance but it’s another day in the office and hopefully in a couple of days, I can come out and be at my best, because that’s what’s needed.”

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner barrelled ominously into the Australian Open third round as 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka survived an epic to make Grand Slam history.

An erratic Madison Keys did enough to keep her title defence on track and Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka also triumphed on a sunny but cooler Melbourne Park day five.

The tournament fell briefly silent in the evening to remember the 15 people killed at Bondi Beach last month by gunmen who opened fire on a Jewish festival.

Djokovic sent 141^st -ranked qualifier Francesco Maestrelli packing in straight sets at Rod Laver Arena.

The Serbian great is on his latest mission to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and dismissed the Italian 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Djokovic faces 75^th -ranked Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands next.

Djokovic is well known for his sometimes unusual preparations, which include hugging a Brazilian fig tree in Melbourne’s botanical gardens.

“That is my oldest friend here in Melbourne,” said the 38-year-old former world number one, who has won 10 Australian Open titles, more than anyone in history.

“He has been there to heal my wounds and give me company. We have a friendship going over 20 years.”

Two-time reigning champion Sinner wasted no time in powering on with a demolition of home player James Duckworth, with the Italian second seed romping to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory in just one hour and 49 minutes.

Sinner plays big-serving Eliot Spizzirri, the 85^th -ranked American, next as he pursues a Melbourne Park hat-trick.

Exhausted warhorse Wawrinka battled to a marathon five-set win in his Australian Open farewell.

He was joined in the next round by another experienced campaigner in the 37-year-old Marin Cilic, who defeated Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.

In Melbourne as a wildcard, Wawrinka pulled heroically through in four hours and 33 minutes against French qualifier Arthur Gea.

He won 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10⁄3) to become the first player aged 40 or over to reach the men’s third round at a Slam since Ken Rosewall at the Australian Open in 1978.

The former Australian Open champion is playing his last season before retiring and faces the American ninth seed Taylor Fritz next.

“Exhausted. I am trying to last as long as possible on my last Australian Open,” Wawrinka said.

Asked what his plans were for the rest of the evening, Wawrinka replied: “I might pick up a beer, I deserve one.”

Lorenzo Musetti, the fifth seed, beat fellow Italian and good friend Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

American eighth seed Ben Shelton was a comfortable 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victor over Australia’s Dane Sweeny.

Women’s champion Keys blew hot and cold before getting over the line 6-1, 7-5 against fellow American Ashlyn Krueger.

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Keys, who upset Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, admitted after her laboured first-round win that she was a bundle of nerves and “too timid”.

The 29-year-old threw off the shackles in the first set against the 92nd-ranked Krueger, taking it in just 23 minutes before having to rally from 2-5 in the second.

She meets the experienced Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic next.

In another all-United States clash, sixth seed Jessica Pegula made light work of her doubles partner McCartney Kessler in a rapid 6-0, 6-2 win.

Another ruthless winner was fourth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova – 6-1, 6-4 against the Czech Katerina Siniakova.

Second seed Swiatek, who has won six major titles but never been successful in Melbourne, was in cruise control against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-3.

Fifth seed Elena Rybakina advanced but 10^th  seed Belinda Benic was stunned by qualifier Nikola Bartunkova in three sets.

Two-time former champion Naomi Osaka, who made a grand entrance in the first round in a jellyfish-inspired outfit, was error-strewn in beating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

The match ended in acrimony with some angry words from Cirstea at the net.

“She’s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open. So sorry she was mad about it,” said Osaka.

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn  from this week’s start of the ATP Cincinnati Masters, with the pull-out coming a year to the day from his Paris Olympic gold medal victory.

Tournament officials confirmed the news to The Athletic, meaning the 38-year-old Serb will have played no matches between his Wimbledon semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner and the US Open start in three weeks.

World number one Sinner, who like Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz skipped the current ATP Toronto Masters in order to rest and recover from Wimbledon, has been in Cincinnati since the weekend.

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Sinner and his team posted a golf course selfie to social media on Monday, one day after an opening practice session at the pre-US Open event.

Djokovic, winner of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, first played Cincinnati in 2005 and won the last of his three titles there in 2023 after losing five previous finals.

Novak Djokovic has  sailed into a record 19th French Open quarter-final   as world number 361 Lois Boisson knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula to become the first home quarter-finalist at Roland Garros since 2017.

The 38-year-old Djokovic dusted aside Britain’s Cameron Norrie in straight sets, his 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier bringing up the Serbian’s 100th match win at the French Open.

His tally of 19 quarter-final appearances at Roland Garros is the record for a single Grand Slam tournament, surpassing Roger Federer’s 18 Wimbledon quarter-finals.

But Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, is focused on much bigger goals as he chases a new outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles this week.

 “I feel good. I know I can play better. But 12 sets played, 12 sets won, it’s been solid so far,” said Djokovic, who will likely face a much more difficult test against world number three Alexander Zverev.

 “It’s great, but victory number 101 would be better. I’m very honoured… But I need to continue now.”

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Djokovic has not played anyone higher than 73^rd  through the first four rounds. Zverev is last year’s runner-up and advanced when Djokovic retired injured from their last meeting in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.

Zverev moved into his seventh Roland Garros quarter-final when Dutch opponent Tallon Griekspoor quit with an abdominal problem while trailing 6-4, 3-0.

The German is still hunting a first Grand Slam title. He lost the 2024 final to Carlos Alcaraz and then finished runner-up to Jannik Sinner in Melbourne.

 “Novak Djokovic will never be a black horse. For me, Carlos is the favourite,” said Zverev. “Then I would say the next three in line are Jannik, myself, and Novak, right? I still believe that.”

Gauff, Andreeva win

Novak Djokovic made a clinical start to his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25^th  Grand Slam title at the French Open, while women’s contenders Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva successfully got their campaigns under way at a windy Roland Garros.

The 38-year-old Djokovic had little trouble in seeing off 98th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, three days after becoming only the third man to win 100 ATP titles with his victory in Geneva.

“I don’t know how many more Grand Slams I’ve got left in my body,” said Djokovic, seeded sixth and playing in Paris for the first time since winning Olympic gold last August. “I’m just trying to enjoy every moment in this magnificent stadium.”

The three-time French Open champion lost his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid earlier in the clay-court season, but was dominant against McDonald, with his only hic-cup coming when he failed to serve out the second set in the eighth game.

The Serb, who withdrew injured before the quarter-finals in 2024, will meet a Frenchman in either Corentin Moutet or Clement Tabur in round two.

Djokovic is on the same half of the draw as world number one Jannik Sinner and last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev, who saw off American teenager Learner Tien 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

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World number three Zverev is hoping to go a step further than 12 months ago when he lost the final to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, his third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals.

His preparation has been far from ideal after his plane was struck by lightning on the journey to Paris following a last-16 loss in Hamburg.

The 19-year-old Tien, who knocked out Daniil Medvedev en route to the Australian Open last 16 in January, was overpowered on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Alexander Zverev never looked like slipping up against American youngster Learner Tien

Zverev, who has reached at least the semi-finals in each of the last four French Opens, will next face Dutchman Jesper de Jong.

Former US Open champion and five-time Grand Slam runner-up Medvedev was dumped out in the first round for the sixth time in Paris, losing a dramatic clash with Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5.

Grigor Dimitrov retired injured for a fourth consecutive Grand Slam tournament, calling it quits due to a leg injury when leading American Ethan Quinn by two sets to one.

Ninth seed Alex de Minaur, a quarter-finalist at each of the past four majors, started well with an accomplished 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8⁄6) win over Serbia’s Laslo Djere.

Miami champion Jakub Mensik came through an entertaining match against Frenchman Alexandre Muller, repeatedly taunting the home crowd during a 7-5, 6-7 (5⁄7), 7-5, 6-3 victory.

In the women’s draw, 2022 runner-up Gauff brushed aside Australia’s Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2.

Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, has not won a tournament since last year’s WTA Finals but reached the finals at both Madrid and Rome this month.

The 21-year-old American has reached the quarter-finals or better in each of her past four visits to Roland Garros.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be a clean match with how windy it was,” said the second seed, who initially forgot her racquets which had to be collected by a ball boy.

 “Honestly, it was two different matches depending on which side of the court you were on.”

Rising Russian star Andreeva is eyeing her maiden Grand Slam crown after WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells and recovered well after falling 3-0 down to Spaniard Cristina Bucsa in the first set.

The 18-year-old quickly overturned the double-break deficit and eventually cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over the world number 98.

“With time I played better and better, so I felt like closer to the end of the match was playing good, not like in the beginning,” said the sixth seed.

Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals last year, will play American Ashlyn Krueger in the second round on Thursday.

Third seed Jessica Pegula also made serene progress with a 6-2, 6-4 success against Romania’s Anca Todoni as the American returned to Roland Garros after missing the 2024 edition due to injuries.

Two-time former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka hammered Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer, who will retire after Wimbledon, 6-0, 6-0 on Court 6, while Magdalena Frech knocked out three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur.

Novak Djokovic has  urged tennis authorities to overhaul the sport’s anti-doping system, pointing to “inconsistencies” in cases involving top stars Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek and those of lower-ranked players.

World number one Sinner agreed to a three-month ban on Saturday, admitting “partial responsibility” for mistakes by his team which led to him twice testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year.

Sinner was facing a potential ban of two years after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against his initial exoneration by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), announced in August.

In a surprising move, WADA withdrew its appeal and came to an agreement with Sinner to accept a three-month ban.

In another high-profile case last year, five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek accepted a one-month ban after testing positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine.

 “There’s a majority of the players that I’ve talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also last few months, that are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled,” said Djokovic.

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 “A majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening. It seems like, it appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers.”

In contrast, the recently retired Simona Halep, a former world number one, was handed a four-year ban by the ITIA in 2022 after testing positive for the blood-boosting drug roxadustat.

She argued it was the result of a tainted supplement and successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which reduced her suspension to nine months.

 “Simona Halep and (Britain’s) Tara Moore and some other players that are maybe less known that have been struggling to resolve their cases for years, or have gotten the ban for years,” said Djokovic.

 “There is so much inconsistencies between the cases.”

Djokovic, who is returning to action this week at the Qatar Open for the first time since retiring injured from last month’s Australian Open semi-finals, believes a change is needed.

 “Right now it’s a ripe time for us to really address the system, because the system and the structure obviously doesn’t work (for) anti-doping, it’s obvious,” he said.

 “I hope that in the next period of the near future that the governing bodies are going to come together, of our tours and the tennis ecosystem, and try to find a more effective way to deal with these processes.

 “It’s inconsistent, and it appears to be very unfair.”

 “If you are going to treat every case individually or independently, which is what’s happening, then there’s no consistency, then there is no transparency, and some cases are transparent, some are not,” he continued.

 “The problem is that right now there is a lack of trust generally from the tennis players, both male and female, towards WADA and ITIA, and the whole process.”

Novak Djokovic beat young rival Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 in a gladiatorial battle worthy of a title clash to charge into the Australian Open semi-finals and remain in the hunt for a record 25^th  Grand Slam title.

In the latest chapter of a generational rivalry that has played out on the biggest stages, including last year’s Olympic final in Paris which Djokovic won, it was the 37-year-old who maintained his hard court dominance over Alcaraz.

Defeat was a blow for the 21-year-old Spaniard as the French Open and Wimbledon champion’s bid to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam went up in flames, and he was left to digest his third loss to Djokovic on the surface.

“I wish this match today was the final,” said Djokovic, who next takes on German second seed Alexander Zverev in what would be a men’s record 50th major singles semi-final for the Serb.

“It’s just one of the most epic matches that I’ve played on this court, on any court, really. So thank you all for staying at 1 a.m. to watch us and support the players.”

Some loose shots at the start of the match put Alcaraz on the back foot but he fired a magnificent backhand winner to pull back a break and was rock solid from there, vaulting to a 5-4 lead in a physical opening set after Djokovic made an error.

Having dropped his serve for a second time, Djokovic took an off-court medical timeout and returned with his left thigh taped up, but the seventh-seeded Serb could not prevent Alcaraz from holding to love with a big ace at the end to clinch the set.

“Since I’m still in the tournament, I don’t want to reveal too much, obviously,” Djokovic said.

“The medication started to kick in, and they helped. No doubt, I had to take another dose. I mean, this sounds awful. Me taking another dose. If I lost that second set, I don’t know if I would continue playing, but I felt better and better.”

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Djokovic was far more aggressive in the second set and made several forays towards the net to reel off the first three games before producing a spectacular backhand overhead smash assisted by the net cord at one point, but Alcaraz pulled level at 3-3.

The momentum shifted again as Djokovic heaped the pressure on the third-seeded Spaniard with heavy ball-striking to claim the second set and drew massive cheers from the Rod Laver Arena crowd when he broke for a 4-2 and then 5-3 lead in the third.

Playing like a much younger version of himself, 10-times Melbourne Park champion Djokovic showed surgical precision to claim the set before breaking early in the next one to tighten his grip on the match.

Alcaraz won an incredible 33-shot rally to rescue a break point while down 4-2 in the fourth set and smiled as he gasped for air but Djokovic used all his experience to seal the win in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“God knows when we’re going to go to sleep,” said Djokovic.

“I guess the key is recovery for me. To be honest, that’s all I’m thinking about. The extra day with no match comes at the perfect time for me.

“Let’s see if it’s going to be good enough on Friday, hopefully I can come out and feel my best because Sasha (Zverev) is playing some of the best tennis he has played.

“We have an agreement, as long as I play he’s going to let me win Grand Slam matches,” Djokovic said with a smile.

Irrepressible 10-time champion Novak Djokovic set up a blockbuster Australian Open quarter-final  with Carlos Alcaraz after downing Czech Jiri Lehecka.

The 37-year-old Serb, who is gunning for a record 25th Grand Slam title, beat the 24^th  seed 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7⁄4) on Rod Laver Arena.

It sent him into the last eight at Melbourne Park for a 15th time, a record he now shares with Roger Federer and one ahead of Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe.

The win also extended his own all-time mark to 61 for most quarter-final appearances at majors, three ahead of the Swiss great.

His reward is a showdown tomorrow  with third seed Alcaraz, who is already a four-time Slam winner aged 21 but has never gone beyond the Australian Open quarter-finals.

The Spaniard set up the clash after Briton Jack Draper retired during their last-16 match when losing 7-5, 6-1.

 “Being in a quarter-final, I’m going to approach the match the same as I did in the previous matches against him, and let’s see,” said Alcaraz of Djokovic. “When we are seeing him playing, he seems like he’s young again, so… It’s unbelievable. He’s in a really good shape.”

But the Spaniard added: “I’m just ready and I know what I have to do in quarter-finals.”

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Djokovic and Alcaraz have played each other seven times with the Serb leading 4-3, including victory in their last clash in the Paris Olympics final.

They have crossed paths at Grand Slams three times, twice in the Wimbledon decider with the Spaniard winning on both occasions.

But they have never played at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic has achieved his greatest success.

Lehecka won the lead-up Brisbane International event, where Djokovic lost in the quarter-finals, but he was never seriously in the reckoning on the big stage.

Djokovic quickly put pressure on his serve and achieved a break in the eighth game of set one when the Czech sent down a double fault.

Another break on Lehecka’s opening serve set the tone for set two with Djokovic dominating from the baseline.

The young Czech changed tactics in a closer set three, pushing Djokovic to the net more while picking up his serving intensity.

It went to a tiebreak where the Serb produced some stunning shots to seal the win.

Against Draper, Alcaraz was well on top when the Briton pulled the pin on a sweltering afternoon because of “multiple areas really in pain”.

The 15^th  seed Draper needed five sets to win his first three Melbourne matches, rallying from behind in all of them to stay in the tournament, and it finally caught up with him.

 “It’s not the way I wanted to win. But obviously I’m happy to play another quarter-final here in Australia,” said Alcaraz. “Physically, I’m feeling great. So coming into the second week of a Grand Slam it is important to feel well physically because right now the matches are even tougher.”

Novak Djokovic created a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday, but last year’s women’s finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, in-form Coco Gauff, two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka and a rampant Carlos Alcaraz were all victors on a rainy day four.

But Norway’s Casper Ruud lost, going down in four sets to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik to become the highest men’s seed to fall at six.

Playing under the roof on Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic needed four sets for the second match in a row before defeating Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7 (4⁄7), 6-3, 6-2.

It was Djokovic’s 430^th  singles match at a major to claim sole ownership of most ever played, men or women, in the Open Era ahead of Roger Federer (429) and Serena Williams (423).

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The Serb is chasing a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and historic 25^th Grand Slam crown.

 “Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I’m just blessed to be making another record,” said Djokovic, 37, now coached by former rival Andy Murray.

Djokovic faces Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac next and is drawn to meet Spain’s Alcaraz in the last eight.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz dropped just five games in an ominous display to sprint into the third round.

The third seed showed no mercy to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 rout in 81 minutes.

“The less time you spend on court in the Grand Slams, especially in the beginning, it is going to be better,” said Alcaraz, who is yet to go beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

Heading home on Wednesday with Ruud was qualifier Hady Habib, who on Sunday became the first player from Lebanon to win a Grand Slam match.

He went down in three sets to France’s Ugo Humbert.

Second seed Alexander Zverev of Germany plays in the graveyard slot, the last evening match on Rod Laver Arena, against Spaniard Pedro Martinez.

Meanwhile, Olympic champion Zheng was sent packing 7-6 (7⁄3), 6-3 by world number 97 Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the women’s draw at age 36.

 “I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis. I had nothing to lose so I just told myself to swing free,” said the German.

 “It’s tennis. Nothing more,” said China’s Zheng, 22, who was given two time violations and lost her cool as her tilt at a maiden major crown evaporated in only the second round.

Sabalenka dropped her serve three times and faced 11 break points before overcoming Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5, rattling off the last five games in a row.

“I have to fight. Today’s match proved that. Girls can go there and just play without any fear, without anything to lose. They can put you in really uncomfortable positions,” said Sabalenka, who beat Zheng in the 2024 final.

The win kept the Belarusian world number one on course for a rare hat-trick of consecutive Australian Open titles, a feat last achieved 26 years ago by Martina Hingis and only matched by four other women in history.

Former world number one Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 champion in Australia but now unseeded, stormed back to defeat 20^th  seed Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Osaka called it a “little revenge” for defeat at the US Open in August to the Czech.

World number three Gauff, who finished 2024 by winning the China Open and the WTA Tour Finals, fought back from 5-3 down in the second set to see off Britain’s Jodie Burrage 6-3, 7-5.

Fellow American Jessica Pegula, beaten in the US Open final by Sabalenka last year, eased through 6-4, 6-2 against Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka celebrates victory against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

Today, men’s number one Jannik Sinner steps up the defence of his Melbourne crown when he faces Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate.

Daniil Medvedev, Iga Swiatek and Brazilian teenage sensation Joao Fonseca are also in second-round action.

Novak Djokovic said the way he fought back after losing the opening set of his first-round match bodes well in his quest for an 11^th Australian Open title and record 25^th  Grand Slam crown.

With new coach Andy Murray watching on, the 37-year-old Djokovic was flat-footed early on against American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy before winning in four sets.

The 19-year-old Basavareddy, who was making his Grand Slam main draw debut, stunned Djokovic by clinching the first set.

But the Serbian slowly began to get his measure, battling through 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 with Murray sitting quietly courtside on Rod Laver Arena in one of the newly introduced “coaching pods”.

The win put the seventh seed into the second round in Melbourne for an 18^th  consecutive year.

“As far as my performance, I didn’t start really well,” he said. “I kind of had opportunities to come back towards the end of the first but I was probably a bit too passive from the back of the court. He was dictating the play.

 “Then 4-3 second set, I played a great game, crucial break. I started to switch the momentum to my side.

“I ended up I think the match in a good fashion. I think that it’s important. It counts mentally for me, for the rest of the tournament.”

The veteran was effusive in praise for the athletic youngster, ranked 107.

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“I was very impressed by him. I think the whole stadium was really,” Djokovic said.

“Huge credit to him for stepping out in his debut in a Grand Slam, first time on a big court, playing the way he did play. So well done.

“I’m sure if he keeps going this way, he’s very young, we are going to see quite a bit of him in the future.”

Djokovic hired long-time rival Murray, who retired last year, to help him get back to winning ways after a lean 2024 where he failed to collect a major for the first time since 2017.

While he earned Olympic gold, the Slams were dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

 “A few times I did approach Andy, asked him something about whatever it was, whatever shot. He was giving me his feedback, his guidance and opinion,” he said.

“It’s important. I enjoy talking to Andy. I mean, he knows tennis as well as anybody out there.

“I think he was doing great today,” he added. “He was standing up several times, trying to encourage me and support me. I enjoyed it.”

Djokovic will next play Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria in his bid to win one more Slam and surpass Margaret Court’s 24 as the best ever.

Should he go all the way, it will be his 100th career title, just the third man in the Open era to reach the milestone behind Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).