Serb showed off astounding movement in 100th win in Melbourne to begin his 22nd grand slam season in style
T
he very first point of Novak Djokovic’s 2026 season offered an instant reminder of his enduring greatness. Djokovic started his first match of his Australian Open campaign, also his opening match of the season, by working his way through a breathless 17-stroke rally and then punctuating the exchange with a perfectly timed forehand winner. He could not help but chuckle at his own genius.
That blazing start set the tone for a straightforward night inside Rod Laver Arena as Djokovic began his 22nd grand slam season with an effortless 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win against Spain’s Pedro Martínez. It was the Serb’s 100th win at the Australian Open, a feat he has also achieved at Wimbledon and Roland Garros.
Djokovic seems to create history every time he steps on to a tennis court these days, and this occasion was no different. By simply lining up to the baseline against Martínez, Djokovic tied Roger Federer’s record of most main-draw appearances at the Australian Open (21), a tournament he has won a record 10 times, and Federer’s and Feliciano López’s record of most grand slam appearances (81).
