Australian Open: Djokovic enjoys winning start with coach Murray while Sinner and Alcaraz sail through

Former world No 1 Novak Djokovic overcame a first-set scare before beating teenage wild card Nishesh Basavareddy in his Australian Open first-round clash on Monday.

The 10-time Melbourne Park champion – who had new coach Andy Murray watching from the stands for the first time in a Grand Slam match – lost the first set to his American opponent before recovering to seal a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win on Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic, who is targeting a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, was flat-footed and out of ideas early on before going on to seal a second-round spot for an 18th consecutive year when he will face Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria.

“I must say that it's a bit strange to have him courtside in my box,” Djokovic said of his new coach. “We played for over 20 years against each other at the highest level, so it's nice to have him on my side of the net.

“He gave me some great advice during the match. It's really nice to be able to exchange some feedback … hopefully we don't stop here.”

World No 1 Jannik Sinner was made to work in the first match of his title defence before eventually sweeping aside Nicolas Jarry 7-6, 7-6, 6-1.

Sinner was playing for the first time since the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced last week that it would hear an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency in April over a drugs scandal that rocked the Italian last year.

Sinner, who defeated Daniil Medvedev in last year's final, was greeted by warm applause from the Melbourne crowd when he walked on court.

“I was curious to see how it was. You never know what's happening,” the 23-year-old said about the reception. “I was happy about the crowd … it was a nice atmosphere.”

Sinner is unbeaten since losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Beijing final last October and has now won his last 14 matches in straight sets. He faces Australian wild card Tristan Schoolkate in the next round.

Third seed Carlos Alcaraz, playing his first match of the season, suffered a couple of hairy moments before easing through 6-1, 7-5, 6-1.

“There is no secret, I work, I try to be better every day,” said Alcaraz, who is bidding to complete a career Grand Slam of all four majors aged just 21 and faces Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka next up.

Former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first big-name casualty of this year's tournament when the Greek 11th seed lost 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to young American Alex Michelsen.

“It was a difficult first-round match,” said Tsitsipas after losing to the 20-year-old. “I knew I was dealing with a pretty serious opponent because I’ve played him before and I have lost.”

Tsitsipas has now lost three Grand Slam matches in a row after a second-round exit at Wimbledon and first-round defeat at the US Open.

Home hope Nick Kyrgios fell at the first hurdle when he lost 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 to Britain's Jacob Fearnley in his first appearance at Melbourne Park since 2022 after a string of serious injuries.

In the women's draw, second seed Iga Swiatek began her campaign for a first Australian Open crown with a 6-3, 6-4 first-round win against Katerina Siniakova.

The Pole has won five Grand Slam titles but has a patchy record in Melbourne, and has only once progressed beyond the fourth round.

She arrived this year with Naomi Osaka's former coach Wim Fissette in her corner after hooking up with the Belgian towards the end of last year.

“Honestly, I wouldn't say my preparation during the last years was really bad,” said Swiatek, who has fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, sixth seed Elena Rybakina and eighth seed Emma Navarro lurking in her half of the draw.

“These are not the easiest surfaces for me. I just have to keep grinding and fighting for every ball.”

American third seed Coco Gauff sealed a 6-3, 6-3 victory over countrywoman Sofia Kenin making it 10 wins in a row for the teenager after claiming titles at the WTA Finals and United Cup.

“When I saw the draw, I was like, ‘It’s not a great first round’,” said Gauff, who faces Britain’s Jodie Burrage in the second round.

“She’s one of those people that she can play great tennis. She’s obviously won this tournament before, but, I just think of the positives of, if you get through that, then you kind of have set the tone for having a high level throughout the tournament.”

Seventh seed Jessica Pegula took exactly an hour to beat young Australian wild card Maya Joint 6-3 6-0, while Belinda Bencic – returning to Grand Slam tennis for the first time since becoming a mother – defeated 16th seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 7-6.