Djokovic Cruises to 100th Australian Open Win, Eyes Record 25th Grand Slam

Sports

Novak Djokovic opened his Australian Open campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over Spain’s Pedro Martinez, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in Melbourne. The 38-year-old Serb will face Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in the second round.

The win marks Djokovic’s 100th Australian Open match victory and his 81st Grand Slam appearance, equaling the all-time men’s singles record held by Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez.

“Centurion is pretty nice. I always give my best on the court. History-making is a great motivation,” Djokovic said from Rod Laver Arena, expressing his delight at returning to his favorite stage.

Now ranked fourth in the world, Djokovic had skipped a warm-up event this month to manage his physical condition. Despite a brief hamstring stretch between games, he showed no signs of rustiness, racing through the first set 3-0 and maintaining control throughout.

Djokovic is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam, aiming to surpass Margaret Court and challenge the recent dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner. He last won a major at the 2023 US Open and reached the Australian Open semifinals last year before retiring due to injury.

Fans and analysts will be watching closely as Djokovic looks to add another chapter to his historic career in Melbourne.