Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after profitable his first-round match in opposition to Spain’s Pedro Martinez in Australian Open on January 19, 2026. — Reuters
Novak Djokovic escaped the warmth and doused Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) on the Australian Open on Saturday to achieve the fourth spherical and add one other line within the file e book throughout his bid for a standalone twenty fifth Grand Slam title.
Along with his 102nd match victory at Melbourne, the evergreen Serb equalled six-times champion Roger Federer’s file on the 12 months’s first main and in addition turned the primary participant to safe 400 wins on the Grand Slams.
“I feel really good. It’s been a great start,” the 10-times Melbourne Park champion declared.
“Things can change and I’m not getting ahead of myself, because last year I learned a lesson, I got too excited too early in some of the Slams, playing well and getting to the quarter-finals and semi-finals and then getting injured.
“I am nonetheless attempting to provide these younger guys a push for his or her cash. I am nonetheless round and hanging in there. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are enjoying at a special stage.
“But when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance […] especially on this court. I look forward to a good battle.”
Djokovic opened the night session on a steamy day by which play continued beneath the primary showcourt roofs and eased to a 5-3 lead earlier than firing a chic backhand crosscourt winner and celebrating along with his arms out to imitate an airplane.
He endured minor turbulence following that time, however had no hassle taking full flight once more as he broke within the opening recreation of the second set when a deflated Van de Zandschulp fired his backhand lengthy.
Djokovic briefly misplaced his cool whereas up 4-2, putting a ball that flew near a ball child stationed close to the online. Although the Serb averted a code violation, the incident triggered recollections of his 2020 US. Open default for putting a line choose.
Up two units, Djokovic had remedy for a blister on his proper foot after a tumble within the third and rallied from a break down earlier than holding his nerve within the tiebreak to arrange a conflict with both sixteenth seed Jakub Mensik or Ethan Quinn.
“A few points before (I fell) I almost twisted my ankle and wanted to see the physio for my blisters,” Djokovic mentioned.
“Thankfully I managed to have a good fall and protected myself. Things could have been very ugly in that moment.”
