Novak Djokovic opened his pursuit of an 11th Australian Open title with a powerful first-round victory on Monday, marking a milestone in the process.
The Serbian star, seeded fourth, delivered a dominant performance on Rod Laver Arena, defeating Spain’s Pedro Martínez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. With this win, Djokovic secured his 100th career match victory at the Australian Open, a tournament where he has enjoyed unparalleled success.
“It’s great to be back. This is definitely my favorite court, one that has given me so much,” Djokovic said after the match. “I try to give it back as much as I could over the last 20-plus years.”
Djokovic’s serve was nearly flawless throughout the contest. He lost only three points on his first serve all match, controlling play from the start against the 71st-ranked Martínez. The victory also extended Djokovic’s remarkable streak of never losing in the first round of a Grand Slam in 20 years.
By simply stepping onto the court, Djokovic matched two notable records. He tied Roger Federer for most Australian Open appearances by a male player (21) and also equaled Federer and Spain’s Feliciano López for most Grand Slam tournament entries overall (81).
Reflecting on his 100th win in Melbourne, Djokovic said, “What can I say? I like the sound of it. To be a centurion is a pretty nice feeling. History making is a great motivation particularly in the last five, 10 years of my career.”
Djokovic, who had not played a competitive match since early November, showed no signs of rust. He moves on to face Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in the second round.
The 36-year-old now holds the all-time men’s records across every Grand Slam round, most titles, finals, semi-finals, quarter-finals, and wins in each stage of the tournaments, from the first round to the final.
Supported in the stands by former Spanish footballer Juan Mata, Djokovic looked focused and sharp. With this commanding start, his quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title is firmly underway.
Novak Djokovic now holds the ALL-TIME records in Grand Slams for most.
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