MELBOURNE, Australia — The highly anticipated debut of Novak Djokovic with his former adversary Andy Murray as coach began with a rocky start, even against a 19-year-old making his first appearance on the Grand Slam stage.
Despite dropping the opening set at the 2025 Australian Open on Monday night to Nishesh Basavareddy, an American who recently left Stanford University to pursue a professional career, Djokovic ultimately regained control for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 triumph. This marks the beginning of his quest for an unprecedented 11th title at Melbourne Park and a historic 25th major championship overall.
“Having him in my corner is obviously fantastic,” Djokovic expressed regarding Murray. “It felt a bit surreal to see him courtside. We’ve competed against each other for over two decades at the highest level. It’s great to have him on my side now. He offered some invaluable insights during the match.”
Before stepping into Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic and Murray engaged in a light-hearted conversation at the gym, finishing with a fist bump before Djokovic hopped on a treadmill to get his blood pumping.
Throughout the match, interactions between the two were limited, with only a notable exchange before the fourth set. Both 37-year-olds were born just a week apart and have been rivals since they were 12, including several finals during their professional careers. After Murray retired at the Paris Olympics in August, Djokovic proposed the coaching collaboration in November.
Murray was known for his dramatic on-court antics, often expressing frustration towards his team mid-match, a characteristic Djokovic similarly exhibits.
Djokovic ignited his competitive fire when he secured a crucial break after 1.5 hours. With Basavareddy’s forehand drifting wide, Djokovic let out a roar, raised his fist, and pointed to his ear, signaling a turning point in the match. Unfortunately for Basavareddy, he began showing signs of distress, gingerly moving between points before taking a medical timeout before the third set.
Day 2 of the tournament was bustling, featuring nine Grand Slam champions, who collectively hold 43 major titles, alongside another six players with runner-up finishes. Notable winners included No. 2 Iga Swiatek, No. 3 Coco Gauff, and No. 7 Jessica Pegula among the women, with No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz among the men.
Naomi Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, faced off against Caroline Garcia in the night’s final matchup at Rod Laver Arena.
Significant early exit upsets included two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, 2017 French Open titleholder Jelena Ostapenko, and two-time major finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. Ostapenko lost 6-3, 7-6 (6) to Belinda Bencic, the Olympic gold medalist, who is making her way back after maternity leave and currently ranked outside the top 400.
Another surprising departure came from Nick Kyrgios, who faced Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final but has only played one match in the past two seasons due to injury. Struggling with a strained abdominal muscle, he was defeated by Jacob Fearnley 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (2).
“I feel for Nick,” remarked Fearnley, a 23-year-old from Scotland and former college tennis player at TCU. “You could tell he was battling through some issues.”
The high intensity of the exchanges took a toll on Basavareddy. Djokovic’s backhand intensified during the second set, while Basavareddy’s shots began to falter. Djokovic also delivered an impressive 23 aces throughout the match.
At the halfway mark, while the score was tied at 3-all, Basavareddy broke Djokovic with a brilliant backhand return winner. The young talent, openly admiring Djokovic, showcased exquisite touch with drop shots and lob winners while maintaining steady defense at the baseline.
“He’s a very well-rounded player,” Djokovic noted. “I was pleasantly surprised by his diverse shots and incredible fighting spirit towards the end of the match.”
Ranked exactly 100 spots apart in the ATP rankings, the difference in experience and achievements is notably vast.
This match left Basavareddy with a Grand Slam tournament record of 0-1, as he only made his tour-level debut a month prior. Conversely, Djokovic celebrated his record-extending 378th Grand Slam win on Monday, maintaining an unbroken first-round streak since his initial two early exits at the Australian Open in 2005 and 2006.
“He handled the significance of the moment with poise,” Djokovic said of Basavareddy. “I have no doubt we’ll see plenty more of him in the future.”