January 14, 2024
Key posts
11.29pm‘I’m double his age’: Djokovic praises Prizmic11.17pmDjokovic wins in four sets11.15pmGalan knocks out Kubler10.59pm‘Half the crowd didn’t know his first name’: Prizmic wins fans over10.20pmDjokovic pumps his fist after third set win9.56pmKubler will go to a fifth set9.48pm‘The 50s’: McEnroe predicts big year from Prizmic9.30pmPrizmic outlasting Djokovic in rallies
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Day one highlights
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11.29pm
‘I’m double his age’: Djokovic praises Prizmic
Novak Djokovic wants to be “in the corner” of 18-year-old Croatian Dino Prizmic after he pushed the 10-time champion to a four-set, four-hour first round match tonight.
Djokovic also joked that at 36, he was twice the age of his young opponent.
“I started off very well for a 36-year-old guy but, geez, when you think about it, I’m double his age,” Djokovic joked.
“He made me run for my money tonight,” Djokovic told broadcasters post match.
“I have many praises for him…..it’s amazing he did that at 18 years old in his first match in a main draw.
“I certainly want to be in his corner and I hope he lets me in. We will see a lot of him in the future.”
11.17pm
Djokovic wins in four sets
Djokovic has won and progressed to the second round but 18-year-old Croatian Dino Prizmic has put himself on the map as a rising star in men’s tennis.
The 10-time champion did enough to win the fourth set but didn’t have it all his own way as dropping a service game and having the teenage Croatian earn a couple of games before losing, he even batted off four match points and held serve at 5-3.
Novak Djokovic.Credit: Eddie Jim
Prizmic, ranked 178th in the world, looks ready for a big year, while questions remain about how ready Djokovic is to win an 11th Australian Open.
We know his quality but the strikes from Prizmic tonight will ring out along the rest of the draw.
It was the longest first-round match in Djokovic’s Grand Slam career according to the Channel Nine broadcast.
11.15pm
Galan knocks out Kubler
Australia’s Jason Kubler fallen in a fifth set tiebreaker to Daniel Galan in five hours.
Kubler fought back from 7-2 down in the tiebreaker to 10 but he couldn’t match Galan’s booming serve and ground strokes in the final points.
Sadly, Kubler’s tournament ends in the first round but Galan deserved the win.
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10.59pm
‘Half the crowd didn’t know his first name’: Prizmic wins fans over
A few hours ago it was a shock, now it seems a little less amazing but Prizmic managed another break on Djokovic in the fourth set.
He’s still down 4-3 with Djokovic to serve, it shows some the level of fight and talent the young Croatian has.
“At 7pm half this crowd didn’t know his first name – it shows what he has brought to the table tonight,” John McEnroe said.
10.55pm
Kubler serving to force tiebreak
Kubler is down 6-5 in the fifth set after Galan held serve.
The Australian needed another medical time out for treatment on his wrist and he will need all the help he can to hold off Galan and set up a match tiebreak.
Jason Kubler.Credit: Eddie Jim
10.42pm
Galan breaks back
Galan has broken Kubler’s serve to make it 4-4 in the fifth set after the Aussie had some struggles landing his first serve and then found himself short on a couple of returns.
Kubler didn’t drop his head, instead gestured to himself to improve his focus and his positioning for his ground strokes.
Galan leads 30-15 in his latest service game.
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10.35pm
Djokovic powers ahead in fourth set
Djokovic is pushing hard for the finish line now, as every extra minute on court could cost him later in his title attack.
He’s up two sets to one and 2-0 in the fourth set. Now he is trying to extend his lead and end this contest.
Novak Djokovic.Credit: Eddie Jim
10.29pm
Kubler leads 4-2 in fifth set
Kubler is closing in on a place in the second round after holding serve and taking a 4-2 lead in the fifth set.
He didn’t let Galan have too many chances either seizing his moment and powering home some winning shots.
Kubler still needs to finish the job and win two more games but he is well on his way.
10.20pm
Djokovic pumps his fist after third set win
Djokovic has won a marathon third set and has pumped his fist to the crowd.
He wore down Prizmic as that set went on, in truth he would have worn down almost any other player too as the clock ticked over an hour for the set.
Now the question for Djokovic is whether he can put the foot down and burn past him in fourth set or whether he will need to turn this set into a marathon as well?
Novak Djokovic.Credit: Getty Images
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10.11pm
Here comes Djokovic
Djokovic has broken Prizmic’s serve at 5-3 in the third set and will be serving for the set.
The Serbian fans are roaring again for their hero but I wouldn’t rule out Prizmic just yet.
He could still have a few shots to bring out.
Djokovic leads 6-2, 6-7, 5-3.
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