Djokovic Breaks Federer’s Record with Australian Open Victory

Novak Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer’s record for most Grand Slam singles matches played as he advanced to the third round of the Australian Open.

In his 430th Grand Slam singles match, the 37-year-old overcame a second-set hiccup to defeat qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2. This milestone victory places Djokovic ahead of his long-time rival, Federer, who played his last major match at Wimbledon in 2021.

“I love this sport. I love competition,” Djokovic said, reflecting on the achievement. “I try to give my best every single time. It’s been over 20 years that I’ve been competing in Grand Slams at the highest level. Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I’m just blessed to be making another record.”

This win also marked a significant milestone for Djokovic, making him the first man over 30 to achieve 150 Grand Slam singles victories.

Looking ahead, Djokovic has the opportunity to further cement his legacy in Melbourne. A victory in the tournament would see him claim a record 25th major singles title, surpassing Australia’s Margaret Court as the all-time leader in Grand Slam singles titles.

The seventh seed, guided by three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, will face Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac in the third round.

Meanwhile, Norwegian sixth seed Casper Ruud suffered a significant upset, losing to 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Mensik and Joao Fonseca, the 18-year-old Brazilian qualifier who stunned ninth seed Andrey Rublev on Tuesday, have made history by becoming the first teenagers to defeat top-10 opponents at the same Grand Slam since Djokovic and Murray achieved the feat at Wimbledon in 2006.