With 400 Grand Slam factors and 102 factors for Australia, Novak Djokovic continues to set tennis information.
The 24-time main champion turned the primary participant to achieve 400 Grand Slam singles wins with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over Botic van de Zandsschulp within the third spherical of the Australian Open on Saturday evening.
He improved his win-loss file on the Australian Open to 102 wins and 10 losses, tying Roger Federer’s file for many wins in a season’s first main.
Djokovic has received the Australian Open 10 instances, greater than anybody else. The 38-year-old is in Australia aiming to win his twenty fifth profession main, making him essentially the most embellished tennis participant in historical past.
He took management from the beginning in opposition to Van der Zandsschulp and was positive apart from a quick second within the third set — when he tripped and fell onto the court docket within the third recreation after which had two set factors within the twelfth recreation.
A medical timeout through the third changeover when the coach put tape on the ball of his proper foot and a down-the-line forehand winner solved the primary two issues.
When Djokovic confronted his second set level, referee John Blom repeatedly urged the gang to not make any noise between the primary and second serves.
A spirited Djokovic saved the subsequent shot, pretending to move the ball like a soccer participant because the Dutchman’s shot crossed the baseline.
The group cheered, “Nole, nole, nole,” after which he made the successful serve, sending it to a tiebreaker, which he received.
Djokovic was glad to play an evening match on a day when the match’s warmth coverage needed to be activated, with two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner struggling in afternoon situations earlier than advancing.
Djokovic stated of his fall, “It was a ‘good’ fall, if you’ll name it that. I used to be capable of defend myself.” “Issues might have gotten fairly dangerous.”
The participant stated he was in good bodily situation for this stage of the match however had not made a lot progress after ending within the semi-finals of all 4 Grand Slams final yr.
“I’ve to say it was a fantastic begin to the match,” he stated. “Final yr I discovered a lesson. In some Grand Slams, I received too excited too shortly…I ended up getting injured three out of 4 instances.”
Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have break up the 4 majors between them, and Djokovic acknowledged that “they’re enjoying at a special degree now,” however added: “I am nonetheless attempting to present these younger gamers the push to earn money.”
With a first-round victory over Pedro Martinez, Djokovic equaled two tennis information by beginning in his twenty first Australian Open and 81st Grand Slam match, and added one other milestone along with his a centesimal win at Melbourne Park.
This gave him 102 wins on grass at Wimbledon and 101 on clay at Roland Garros, making him the primary man to realize 100 or extra wins on three Grand Slam surfaces.
Djokovic additionally apologized for practically hitting a ball lady in an act that would have jeopardized his Australian Open hopes.
What occurred within the second set might have price Djokovic dearly, as he carelessly despatched the ball close to the top of a ball lady on the web.
He was famously disqualified from the 2020 US Open after hitting a line choose with a annoyed ball, however there are a number of different situations the place he risked the identical final result.
Djokovic held up his arms and stated: “I apologize for that. It wasn’t needed and it was within the warmth of the second. I used to be fortunate there. I am sorry for the ache I triggered the ball children or anybody.”
Info from The Related Press and Newspaper Affiliation was used on this report.
