Djokovic Records 399th Major Match Win

Novak Djokovic on the brink of history at the Australian Open… what else is new?

The 24-time major champion, and ten-time Australian Open champion, cruised past Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to record his 399th career match win at the majors. Djokovic will face either Botic Van de Zandschulp or Shang Juncheng in the third round.

“It’s all been positive so far, positive signs,” Djokovic said. “But I’ve got to keep it up obviously.”

The 38-year-old has won all six sets he has played in Melbourne (in a total of four hours and 15 minutes), doing all he can to set himself up for the business end of the tournament with gas in the tank. He was clinical from start to finish on Day 5, needing just two hours and 15 minutes to lock up his 101st career Australian Open win.

The Serbian icon is also one win behind Roger Federer for most Australian Open match wins all-time, he can tie the Swiss with a third-round win and pass him winning again to reach the quarterfinals.

There’s also the fact that Djokovic is bidding to win a record 25th major title as he bids to become the oldest player in the Open Era to win a men’s singles Grand Slam title, but those are problems that the Serbian icon can worry about next week.

On a sunny afternoon inside Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic was concerned with the task at hand. He cleared the opening two sets with ease, saving the only two break points he faced and converting three of nine break points to take a commanding lead against the 23-year-old world No. 141.

After breaking for 2-1, he saved another break point early in the third, to hold for 3-1. Djokovic worked over the Italian for a double-break moments later, converting his fifth break point at the nine-and-a-half-minute mark of the fifth game.

The Italian took one of the breaks back in the next game – a dream come true to be sure – but it was as close as he would get.

Djokovic was pleased with his serve once again, though after the match he felt like he served better in his first match. Asked about beefing up that element of his game, he said he felt good that his hard work in the off-season has paid off.

“I always try to work with purpose.” he said. “I had a longer off-season, like the off-season before this one. When I have more time, then I obviously try to look at my game and different elements that I can really improve.

“Otherwise, what’s the point? What’s the point of competing and coming out and not really trying to be better than you were the season before? That’s the kind of mentality I try to nurture. It’s been allowing to me play at the highest level at this age.

“I’m glad that it’s paying off, the work I’ve done in the off-season. It’s the beginning of the tournament. Obviously I haven’t played any lead-up tournament. I’m really happy I’m able to play this way, considering the lack of competitive matches for more than two months.”

Djokovic has yet to be broken and he has won 84 of 94 first-serve points through two rounds.