Novak Djokovic opened his Australian Open campaign with a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Pedro Martínez on Monday night at Rod Laver Arena, a performance that was as efficient as it was historic. The win marked his 100th career victory at the Australian Open, making him the first player in tennis history to record at least 100 match wins at three different Grand Slam tournaments, alongside Wimbledon and Roland Garros.
At 38 years old, Djokovic continues to operate in territory previously thought unreachable. By merely stepping on court, he tied Roger Federer’s record of 21 Australian Open main-draw appearances and equaled the mark Federer shares with Feliciano López for most Grand Slam appearances (81). Each outing now seems to bring another line in the record books.
Against Martínez, ranked No. 71 in the world and far more comfortable on clay, the contest always looked lopsided on paper. Djokovic ensured it was the same in reality. He broke serve early in the opening set and never allowed the Spaniard a foothold in the match. From there, the Serb accelerated, breaking twice in each of the final two sets to close out victory in exactly two hours.
The numbers underlined the dominance. Djokovic fired 14 aces, won 93 percent of points behind his first serve, and did not face a single break point. He finished with 49 winners to just 21 unforced errors, never losing more than one point in any of his 13 service games. Martínez’s trademark grinding defense was dismantled by Djokovic’s precision and depth.
Most striking, however, was Djokovic’s movement. Despite nearly two decades on tour and countless miles in his legs, he continues to glide across the baseline, narrowing angles with anticipation and elasticity that few players- young or old- can match. His defense turned rallies into opportunities, his forehand dictated exchanges, and his serve delivered free points whenever needed.
“Centurion is pretty nice,” Djokovic said afterward, smiling as the crowd roared its approval. “History making is a great motivation. Once I got myself in position to create history, I felt even more inspired to play my best tennis.”
That relationship with the crowd has evolved dramatically. Once cast as the interloper who disrupted the Federer- Rafael Nadal duopoly, Djokovic is now embraced as the sport’s elder statesman. Rod Laver Arena was united in admiration, and the extended post-match interview- once the domain of Federer- reflected the reverence now afforded to the Serbian great.
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Novak Djokovic Chases 25th Grand Slam
Yet Djokovic’s ambitions stretch far beyond round-one milestones. He is eyeing his 25th Grand Slam title, which would make him the most decorated singles player in tennis history.
This year, Djokovic skipped warm-up tournaments, opting instead to preserve himself for Melbourne. “I’m using every hour I can to get my body recovered and ready,” he said, acknowledging the delicate balance between preparation and preservation.
For now, the signs are encouraging. His opening performance was not merely a win; it was a statement- calm, ruthless, and unmistakably Djokovic. The Serb will next face Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli, but the broader message has already been sent.
Novak Djokovic may be 38, but as long as history remains within reach, he shows no intention of slowing down. In Melbourne, where his legend was built, he is once again chasing immortality.
