In a commanding display of serving prowess, world number four Novak Djokovic registered his 100th victory at the Australian Open, defeating Spain’s Pedro Martinez in straight sets. The 10-time champion, who is bidding for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, delivered a masterclass performance, dropping just five points on serve across the two-hour encounter.
Djokovic’s serving exhibition was nothing short of exceptional, as he fired 14 aces and won an astounding 93% of points behind his first serve. The Serb produced eight holds to love and lost just one point in each of the second and third sets, showcasing his unparalleled dominance on serve.
“Tonight’s performance was great, I can’t complain about anything. I served very well,” said Djokovic. “It’s always a challenge to kick-start the tournament on the right note and send the right signal not only to yourself but your opponents watching you play.”
Djokovic’s century of wins in Melbourne joins his impressive feats at Wimbledon (102 wins) and Roland Garros (101 wins), cementing his status as one of the greatest players to have graced the sport. However, the 38-year-old remained humble, insisting that he will not get caught up in his career achievements until he has “put the racquet aside [and is] sipping some nice cocktail on the beach.”
The 10-time champion will face Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in the second round, as he continues his pursuit of history-making success at the Australian Open. “History-making is great motivation,” Djokovic said. “Particularly in the last five or 10 years of my career, once I got myself in a position where I could eventually create history, I was even more inspired to play the best tennis.”
Elsewhere, sixth seed Alex de Minaur expressed his belief in being a serious contender for major honours, while 13th seed Andrey Rublev and 12th seed Casper Ruud both secured straight-set victories. However, there was a surprise early exit for Czech 17th seed Jiri Lehecka, who fell to Arthur Gea in straight sets.