Novak Djokovic has entered into the history of tennis as one of the largest achievements, now becoming the world record for the most grand slam matches. The Serbian Tennis legend, is now the outright leader in that category, taking over the world records that even the other legendary tennis players have held previously Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic was the one who achieved the latest milestone during his second-round match at the Australian Open where he played his 430th Grand Slam match, surpassing Federer’s previous record of 429 matches.
Novak Djokovic Breaks Federer’s Record
The record-breaking moment occurred when Novak Djokovic stepped into the court for his second-round tussle with Portuguese qualifier Jamie Faria. Having equaled Federer’s record in the first round of the tournament, Djokovic recorded a 6-1, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Faria in his 430th Grand Slam match. By winning this, Djokovic not only became the first person to surpass Federer’s tally but also kept on relentlessly going for Grand Slam excellence.
In his mid-30s, Novak Djokovic’s longevity in the sport is unmatched, and his continued dominance in major tournaments shows no signs of slowing down. This achievement further solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest players in tennis history, as he now holds the record for the most Grand Slam matches played across all four major tournaments.
Carlos Alcaraz Shines in Men’s Singles
In other men’s singles action, third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz showed the world how good he is getting on the Australian Open stage as he dominated Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. He took the match in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1, 6-4, to keep his great form going and thus confirming himself as one of the favorites for the title.
Naomi Osaka Makes Strong Comeback
Former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka made a stunning comeback to Grand Slam competition. The two-time champion outplayed US Open semi-finalist Carolina Muchova in a thrilling second-round comeback. Osaka lost the first set 1-6 but came back strongly to win the next two sets 6-1, 6-3. This victory marked her first third-round appearance in a Grand Slam since 2022.
Osaka’s victory also redeemed her defeat at the hands of Muchova during last year’s US Open. That was one defeat that had left Osaka fuming and in a state of frustration. Speaking after the match, Osaka said, “I was very frustrated when Muchova defeated me at the US Open. I was so angry. I am glad I took my revenge. This is not a bad thing. She is one of the toughest rivals.
Major Upset in Women’s Singles: Laura Siegemund Oust Zheng Qinwen
A stunning upset occurred as 36-year-old Laura Siegemund knocked out Olympic gold medalist and last year’s Australia Open runner-up Zheng Qinwen. The 97th-ranked Siegemund dominated Zheng in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3, in the second round of the tournament. Zheng, who reached the final of last year’s Australian Open and won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, could not keep up with Siegemund’s aggressive play.
The match was characterized by a time-wasting violation against Zheng, which seemed to disturb her concentration at key moments. Zheng reflected on the loss, saying, “I think today was not my day. I failed to score points at important moments. Getting a warning about time control also disturbed my concentration.”
Aryna Sabalenka Keeps Dominant Streak
Two-time Australia Open champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her excellent form, winning her 16th consecutive match with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over world number 54 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Sabalenka, who has now won five consecutive matches at the Australian Open, is aiming to secure her third consecutive title at the event, a feat last achieved by Martina Hingis in 1999.
She has kept herself in contention for the number one ranking after all this while and is hoping to hold onto the top position going forward with a fight as Świątek and Coco Gauff are also gunning for it.
Third Round
Jessica Pegula
Mira Andreeva
In other women’s singles action, seventh-seed Jessica Pegula secured her place in the third round with a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win over Elise Mertens. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Russian talent Mira Andreeva also advanced to the third round after a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima.
Both Pegula and Andreeva have strong chances of progressing further as they are playing out their potential in the big arena of the Australian Open.
As the Australian Open continues to roll out, names like Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Aryna Sabalenka are cementing their places in history. A new Grand Slam record for Djokovic is a testament to his endurance, while stars like Alcaraz and Andreeva will soon be cementing their place in the sport. More thrillers are expected to come along, and this 2025 Australian Open promises a lot of action and drama for tennis fans all over the world.
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