Novak Djokovic, the former world number one and Serbian tennis legend, kicked off his campaign for an 11th Australian Open title and an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam crown in dramatic fashion on Monday. Facing 19-year-old American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy in his Grand Slam main draw debut, Djokovic endured a first-set shock before recovering to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 at Melbourne Park’s Rod Laver Arena.
The 37-year-old appeared unsettled early on, struggling to find answers to Basavareddy’s aggressive play. The teenager stunned the Melbourne crowd by claiming the opening set, leaving the veteran Serb on the back foot. Djokovic’s new coach, long-time rival and recently retired Andy Murray, watched quietly from one of the tournament’s new “coaching pods” as his player searched for rhythm.
“At the end it was great, but I think he was the better player for a set-and-a-half,” Djokovic admitted. “He deserves every bit of applause that he got. These kinds of matchups are always tricky and dangerous when you’re playing someone who has nothing to lose. He’s a very complete player.”
The opening set saw Djokovic commit 11 unforced errors and miss all three break point opportunities. Basavareddy, brimming with confidence, broke Djokovic’s serve with a sharp crosscourt backhand to take the set 6-4. However, the shock seemed to jolt Djokovic into action.
In the second set, Djokovic clawed back, breaking Basavareddy’s serve to go up 5-3 and leveling the match with a roar of triumph. The American received medical treatment for his left leg during the changeover and was unable to maintain his earlier intensity. Sensing his opportunity, Djokovic tightened his grip and dominated the remainder of the match, sealing victory with clinical precision.
The match marked Djokovic’s first official outing under Murray’s guidance. The two joined forces after Djokovic endured a lean 2024 season, during which he failed to win a major title for the first time since 2017. Despite the drought, Djokovic claimed Olympic gold last year and remains determined to prove he can still compete with the sport’s elite.
“I’m still here because I believe I can win at the highest level,” said Djokovic.
Up next for the seventh seed is Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria, as Djokovic continues his quest to surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles and cement his status as the greatest player in tennis history.