Australian Open 2025 Diary: Watching Novak Djokovic live, Iga Swiatek is On, being brave with Naomi Osaka and more on Day 2

The weather on Day 2 of the 2025 Australian Open was kinder as the sun shone bright with a hint of breeze flowing through the fabric under your arms. Melbourne was abuzz with hundreds of locals flooding the tram stations to enjoy free rides to the Rod Laver Arena.

Some big players were scheduled for the day. One such name—Iga Swiatek—flashed bright on an 'On' billboard hung above Young & Jacksons located right across Federation Square.

Iga Swiatek's billboard in Melbourne during the 2025 Australian Open.

Following Swiatek on the same billboard was former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka, who's now in the second season of her comeback journey after a maternity break. The Japanese has inspired millions to take up the racket sport professionally but her efforts to protect people from mental issues speak volumes of the compassion she carries within herself.

For someone visiting the city for the first time and alone, the message Osaka's billboard displayed could help a ton.

"You're not alone. Let's be brave."

Naomi Osaka's hoarding in Melbourne during the Australian Open.

Fans were in for a huge surprise on court as unseeded Alex Michelsen outdid World No. 12 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round. Michelsen converted five break points, one more than his opponent and prevailed 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours and 45 minutes.

Sportskeeda caught up with No. 18 seed Hubert Hurkacz after he finished a training session at Court 24 and used the opportunity to find out if a top seed like Tsitsipas losing on the first day affected his mentality. Hurkacz responded "No."

Iga Swiatek then brought some good news for her seeded colleagues as she defeated doubles No. 1 Katerina Siniakova in straight sets to get her Australian Open campaign underway.

The Pole needed an hour and 23 minutes to end the Czech's resistance, and she did it on the back of four break-point conversions and 17 winners.

Sportskeeda then got the opportunity to sit with Bosnia and Herzegovina's Damir Dzumhur, a former World No. 23 currently ranked 83rd on the ATP singles circuit. Playing his first main draw match at the Grand Slams since the 2022 Australian Open, Dzumhur suffered a disappointing 6-7(3), 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat at the hands of home-favorite Aleksander Vukic.

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Watching Novak Djokovic live at the Australian Open 2025

Novak Djokovic enters the Rod Laver Arena at the 2025 Australian Open.

The conversation with Dzumhur ended at 18:50 local time, meaning Novak Djokovic was due to take on American teenager Nishesh Basavareddy at the Rod Laver Arena in 10 minutes.

The media were allocated special seats in the Rod Laver Arena stands that could be accessed through Door 19. The only downside to this facility was the sun beamed directly on these seats until 19:15 local time.

Both Djokovic and Basavareddy received a rousing welcome from the Melbourne crowd but the Serbs were a bit louder.

The match witnessed an unexpected beginning with the young American proving a hard nut to crack for the 24-time Grand Slam champion. He clinched the opening set and one could see the frustration growing on Djokovic's face.

The veteran released it all in the second set as he fought his way back into the match, with Basavareddy calling a medical timeout for discomfort in thighs.

Sportskeeda had to give up the special seats for an exlusive chat with Tunisia's Aziz Dougaz at 21:20 local time while Djokovic continued his mission to reach the second round.

Dougaz, who made the main draw through the qualifying, came up short against Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka. He won the opening set but couldn't keep up the intensity as Nishioka claimed the following three sets to secure a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3 win.

While Dougaz reflected on his tennis journey and future, Djokovic finished his job against Basavareddy, securing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win to record hs first success under coach Andy Murray.

Naomi Osaka brought the curtains down on Day 2 of the Australian Open action on a perfect note. She downed a familiar opponent in Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia -3, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round.

Other notable results for the day at the Australian Open included Jannik Sinner's hard-fought 7-6(5), 7-6(2), 6-1 victory against Chile's Nicolas Jarry and Carlos Alcaraz's impressive 6-1, 7-5, 6-1 win over Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko.