Defending champion Djokovic fends off first-timer Prizmic in 4 hours to advance in Australia
Defending champion and 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic needed four hours to fend off first-timer Dino Prizmic in a first-round Australian Open result that few could have predicted
By JOHN PYE
Published - Jan 14, 2024, 09:20 AM ET
Last Updated - Jan 14, 2024, 09:20 AM EST
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Until he took on defending champion Novak Djokovic at Rod Laver Arena on opening Sunday in Australia, Dino Prizmic had never played 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 last as long as he could. He unsettled the 24-time major winner before Djokovic finished off the match 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.
Djokovic has developed a record at the Australian Open that no man can match, with 10 titles here among his unprecedented career haul. He later said he'd been feeling “under the weather” for four or five days but credited Primzic's talent.
The first set played out just about as expected. From there, it became quite a ride.
