At a Glance
- Novak Djokovic collected his 100th Australian Open victory with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 first-round win over Pedro Martinez
- The 38-year-old becomes the first man to reach 100+ wins on three Grand Slam surfaces: hard at Melbourne (100), grass at Wimbledon (102), clay at Roland Garros (101)
- Djokovic equals Roger Federer’s record of 21 Australian Open appearances and Feliciano Lopez’s 81 Grand Slam starts
- Why it matters: A sixth title here would give him an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam, extending the all-time mark he already owns
Novak Djokovic opened his 21st Australian Open campaign with ruthless efficiency, dismissing Spain’s Pedro Martinez in straight sets to notch his 100th match win at Melbourne Park and keep alive his pursuit of a record-extending 25th major crown.
Historic Century on Three Surfaces
The 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 scoreline took barely two hours and lifted Djokovic’s Melbourne ledger to an eye-catching 100-10, making him the first male player to register triple-digit victories on every Grand Slam surface.
- Hard court: 100 wins at the Australian Open
- Grass: 102 wins at Wimbledon
- Clay: 101 wins at Roland Garros
No other man has reached the century mark at three different Slams.
Milestones Stacked Milestones
Monday night’s victory also saw the 38-year-old:
- Equal Roger Federer’s all-time record of 21 Australian Open appearances
- Draw level with Feliciano Lopez on 81 Grand Slam tournaments played, the most in tennis history
“History making is a great motivation,” Djokovic said. “Centurion is pretty nice. Nice feeling.”
Serving Clinic Sets Tone
Djokovic’s radar was locked from the outset. His serving statistics read like a coach’s template:
- 77% first serves in
- 93% first-serve points won
- 85% second-serve points won
- 14 aces
- Zero break points faced
“Performance-wise, the feeling on the court, it was great,” he said. “Obviously a great serving performance. Sending the right signal, not just to yourself but to all your opponents.”
Vintage Flashes and Light-Hearted Jab
A running forehand winner late in the opening set drew the familiar ripping-the-cord celebration, while a leaping forehand in set three prompted him to credit Gael Monfils for inspiration.
Off court, Djokovic noticed Carlos Alcaraz‘s retooled service motion bears a striking resemblance to his own. He wasted no time in messaging the Spaniard.
“I sent him a message: ‘We have to speak about the copyrights!'” Djokovic laughed. “Every ace I expect a tribute to me.”
Eye on the Big Picture
The top prize this fortnight is $4.15 million, with the runner-up collecting $2.15 million. All singles and doubles competitors receive at least a 10% bump over 2024 pay, making the total purse the richest in tournament history.
For Djokovic, the financial windfall is secondary. He hasn’t lifted a major trophy since the 2023 US Open, a drought he attributes to the rise of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the duo he jokingly calls “Sincaraz.”
> “Alcaraz and Sinner are playing on a different level right now, but if I put everything together at the right time I’m still capable of beating anyone.”
No Warm-Up, No Problem
Djokovic opted against any preparatory events, banking every training hour on being fresh for the season’s first Slam.
> “I’m using every hour that I can to get my body recovered and in shape for the next challenge.”
He reached the semifinals at all four majors in 2025 yet couldn’t crack the Sincaraz stranglehold on the silverware. Six victories over the next fortnight would change that narrative and etch yet another indelible line beside his name: 25 Grand Slam titles, a number once thought unreachable.
Key Takeaways
- Djokovic’s century of wins at Melbourne makes him the only man with 100+ victories at three different Slams
- Dominant serving stats signal intent as he chases a 10th Australian Open crown and 25th major overall
- The 38-year-old skipped warm-up events to concentrate solely on this fortnight, declaring himself fit and motivated
- Prize money records also tumble, with the $4.15 million champion’s cheque highlighting the tournament’s biggest-ever purse
