In a thrilling Australian Open first round match, Novak Djokovic, the 36-year-old Serbian tennis player, emerged victorious against Dino Prizmic, an 18-year-old Croatian player ranked 178th. Djokovic, aiming for his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title, overcame Prizmic in a hard-fought battle, with a final score of 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.

Despite facing challenges throughout the match, Djokovic showcased his resilience, eventually prevailing in a four-hour, one-minute encounter. It was the longest Grand Slam first round match that Djokovic has ever played in his career. He had won his previous 48 Grand Slam first round matches in less than three hours, making this victory a test of his endurance and mental strength.

Prizmic, who was making his Grand Slam main draw debut after winning the 2023 French Open junior championship, proved to be a worthy opponent. He pushed Djokovic to the limit, especially in the third set where he managed to break Djokovic's serve and take a 3-2 lead. However, Djokovic quickly regained control, winning the next eight games and securing the victory.

Reflecting on the match, Djokovic acknowledged Prizmic's exceptional gameplay, commending his opponent's game plan and physicality. Djokovic admitted struggling in various moments throughout the match, but credited Prizmic for his performance.

With this win, Djokovic extended his impressive record at the Australian Open, earning his 29th consecutive match victory in the tournament. However, it marked the second time in the last 17 years that Djokovic dropped a set in the first round of the Australian Open.

Looking ahead, Djokovic will face either Australia's Alexei Popyrin, ranked 43rd, or Marc Polmans, ranked 156th. A potential match with five-time Australian Open runner-up, Andy Murray, awaits Djokovic in the third round, while American player Ben Shelton could be his opponent in the fourth round. Djokovic will aim to maintain his momentum and continue his pursuit of tying the all-time record for the most major singles titles with Margaret Court.

In other Australian Open action, American player Taylor Fritz, seeded No. 12, faced a challenging first-round match, requiring five sets and ankle treatment to advance to the second round. Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova, also from the United States, pulled off an impressive victory against Russia's Liudmila Samsonova, ranked 13th, marking Anisimova's return to Grand Slam competition since her mental health break in May.

Additionally, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, made a triumphant return to Melbourne. Wozniacki advanced in her first match since coming out of retirement last summer, leading 6-2, 2-0 against Poland's Magda Linette before Linette was forced to retire due to an injury.

As the Australian Open continues into its second week, fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming matches featuring top players like Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka. Osaka, a four-time major winner, makes her return to Slam competition after giving birth.