Novak Djokovic faced a brutal test at he started his Australian Open title defence with a 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 victory over qualifier Dino Prizmic. Nick Kyrgios predicted that Djokovic would struggle as he tipped Prizmic to steal a set from the 10-time champion, with the 18-year-old qualifier doing just that. But Djokovic still had some fun as he responded to a marriage proposal from a fan in the crowd.
Prizmic was thrown in the deep end after coming through qualifying to make his first appearance at a Grand Slam as he came up against top seed Djokovic. The Croat idolises the 36-year-old and has even admitted to copying Djokovic’s strict diet by cutting out sugar. But he got a reality check when he was broken in the opening game.
The world No. 178 later received a medical time-out and had his thigh taped before getting broken for a second time. Meanwhile, Djokovic dominated, losing just three points on serve as he took the opener 6-2. Nick Kyrgios, who was commentating on the match for Eurosport, had backed the 18-year-old to take a set ahead of the match, advising him to play his own game.
“Go out there, don’t try and be too flashy, don’t do anything crazy, play within yourself, see how it goes. I’ve seen stranger things happen, Nick Kyrgios is a commentator for Eurosport so if that’s possible I think tonight he can at least win a set,” the former Wimbledon finalist said. And Prizmic seemed to take his advice in the second set, finishing off a 22-shot rally with a winner to give himself his first break point opportunity.
The cheers in Rod Laver Arena were deafening as the Croat broke to take a 3-1 lead but Djokovic quickly pegged him back and put his finger to his ear as he cancelled out Prizmic’s advantage. The qualifier’s confidence only grew as the second set went to a tiebreak and he raced into a 6-2 lead while the world No. 1 was left frustrated with some people calling out during the rallies, shouting “shut the f*** up”.
Prizmic left Djokovic and the 14,000-strong crowd astounded as he took his fourth set point to level things at a set apiece, looking like he believed he could pull off the upset. The 10-time champion responded by breaking to start the third but the teenager won the next three games in a row – including one that went on for more than 15 minutes – playing Djokovic at his own game as he won the majority of the longer exchanges.
The third set turned into a marathon as the top seed broke again to draw level at 3-3, with 52 minutes already on the clock. The teenage qualifier refused to let Djokovic pull away without a fight but it was four games in a row for the No. 1, who broke Prizmic again and let out a huge roar as he finally served out a 71-minute set 6-3.
The fairytale quickly started to fade for Prizmic, as the realities of staying with Djokovic for three hours set in. While the 18-year-old grew tired, the 10-time champion found a new lease of life and started to run away with the match, breaking twice to lead 4-0. In the heat of battle, the world No. 1 found himself rejecting a marriage proposal when a fan in the crowd asked him to marry them.
“I’m a taken man,” Djokovic smiled, as Kyrgios enjoyed the Serb’s response from the commentary box. But Djokovic quickly found himself under pressure again as Prizmic got one of the breaks back. The qualifier forced the top seed to serve for the match himself, saving four match points to keep himself alive against his idol.
The teenager still refused to let Djokovic cruise to the victory, as he saved two more match points with the Serb leading 40-0. But the top seed finally served out the match after four hours and two minutes – the longest first-round tie of his career at a Major.
