Djokovic starts Australian Open with commanding win

The match, held at Rod Laver Arena, lasted nearly two hours, showcasing Djokovic’s experience and command. With this victory, he also achieved his 100th match win at the Australian Open.

After the match, the 38-year-old Djokovic said, “Being back here is always special. This court is my favorite. Achieving my 100th win is an incredible feeling. The chance to make history provides extra motivation.”

Currently ranked fourth in the world, Djokovic had withdrawn from a preparatory tournament earlier this month, citing physical unpreparedness. This was his first competitive match since November.

Despite minor stretching of his right hamstring during the match, it had no impact on his performance. Djokovic dominated from the start, quickly leading 3–0 in the first set and breaking his opponent’s serve in the second set to take control. The third set maintained the same momentum.

Major challenges for Djokovic in this tournament could come from Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who have dominated Grand Slam tournaments in recent years. Sinner has won the Australian Open consecutively twice.

With 24 Grand Slam wins, Djokovic is tied with Margaret Court for the most in history. Since the 2023 U.S. Open, he has not won another major, but this strong start at the Australian Open has reignited hopes of making history.

This match also marked Djokovic’s 81st Grand Slam participation, tying the record for men’s singles with Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez.