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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 15, 2025

 
Novak Djokovic

The Grand Slam king advanced to the third round on Wednesday in Melbourne, and broke another record in the process.

Photo Source: TTV

Every time Novak Djokovic takes the court at a major, history is made. And it was again on Wednesday night in Melbourne, as the Grand Slam king played his 430th main draw match at a major, eclipsing Roger Federer (429) for most all-time.

Tennis Express

It was all in a day’s work for the 24-time major champion, who moved past 21-year-old Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2 to set a third-round clash with Tomas Machac of Czechia.

Bidding for a record 25th major title in Melbourne, Djokovic was once again pushed by a Grand Slam debutant.

But he managed to respond to Faria’s challenge as he dominated the final two sets to cruise to victory.


“I think I responded very well in the third and particularly the fourth set,” Djokovic said. “He was playing lights-out tennis towards the end of the second and the beginning of the third. I had to weather the storm. He was practically serving two first serves the entire match and it’s not easy to play someone like that.”

Faria hit 17 winners in the second set, but couldn’t keep that level as Djokovic dug in and dominated the third and fourth. Nevertheless it was a great performance from Faria, who qualified and won his first Grand Slam match in Melbourne.

“I told him at the net that the future is bright for him,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic shored up his first serve in the final two sets, winning 28 of 31 first-serve points. He finished with 33 winners and 33 unforced errors, and converted 7 of 12 break points across the three hour contest.

"A great test for me," Djokovic said. "I wish maybe I stayed a set less on the court today. Again, I'm happy with the way I ended up the match. Good fashion, good mindset. Yeah, looking forward to the next one."




The 37-year-old is bidding to become the oldest men’s singles Grand Slam champion in history at Melbourne this year, but his draw isn’t doing him any favors. His first match against a seeded player will come on Friday when he faces 26th-seeded Tomas Machac. The Czech defeated Reilly Opelka in five sets on Wednesday to reach the third round in Melbourne for the second consecutive year.

Machac is 1-1 lifetime against Djokovic and he won their last meeting in three sets on the red clay in Geneva last May.

If Djokovic continues to advance things will get even trickier.

Looming as a potential quarterfinal opponent for Djokovic is Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniard who dropped just five games in his second-round defeat of Yoshihito Nishioka on Day 4.

For more history to be made Djokovic will have to find another gear in Melbourne. At the Olympics last year, where he defeated Alcaraz in the gold medal match, he proved that he still has it in him.

Djokovic improved to 95-9 lifetime at the Australian Open with his win. But the man who has played – and won – more Grand Slam matches than any other player has never been one to rest on his laurels. Proving time is coming, and the competition promises to be fierce.

On to the next…

 

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