Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz took the first step toward a potential quarterfinal showdown at the Australian Open by both winning their opening matches on Monday.

After losing his opening set to Nishesh Basavareddy, an American who dropped out of Stanford University and turned professional last month, Djokovic eventually pulled ahead for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win to start thereby achieving his 11th championship at Melbourne Park and a record-breaking 25th major title overall.

It was the Serbian star’s first game with his former rival Andy Murray as coach. Murray withdrew from the Paris Olympics in August; Djokovic suggested a collaboration in November.

This first-round match was Djokovic’s record-breaking 378th victory at a major; He has not lost in the first round since he was eliminated from his first two Australian Opens in 2005 and 2006.

He next faces another relatively young player in the second round, 21-year-old Portuguese Jaime Faria, who is looking to take another step towards his 25th major title.

On Monday, Alcaraz began his bid to complete his career Grand Slam with an incomplete but entertaining 6-1, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan.

Four-time major champion Alcaraz is aiming for his first trophy at Melbourne Park to become the youngest man to win all four Grand Slam titles and the 21-year-old went full throttle after a somewhat nervy opening game.

“I always say it’s hard work,” Alcaraz said.

“I try to get the best out of myself every day. That’s the secret. Every day I try to be a better person and a better player.”

Still honing a new serving move he’d picked up in the offseason, the number three seed fended off a break point and then got on the defensive in the third game to take full control of the opening set, which he won in the shortest possible time Time completed.

He found his range with some devastating winners on both wings to take a 3-1 lead in the second set, but world number 77 Shevchenko won the next four games as fans at Margaret Court Arena rallied behind the underdog .

Alcaraz turned it on again, hitting a fiery forehand winner to create another break point and leveling in the 10th game as his opponent began to feel the immense pressure again and conceded the set.

After the momentum finally changed, Alcaraz won the game in the third set, closing the game with a big ace on his fifth match point to secure a second-round clash with Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.

“He’s a really solid player,” Alcaraz said.

“I have to concentrate on my shots. …Hopefully I can enjoy the game; it will be hard. I will try to provide good tennis so that people can enjoy it.”

Information from the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.