Novak Djokovic on the brink of history at the Australian Open… what else is new?
The 24-time major champion, and ten-time Australian Open champion, cruised past Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to record his 399th career match win at the majors. Djokovic will face either Botic Van de Zandschulp or Shang Juncheng in the third round.
The 38-year-old has won all six sets he has played in Melbourne (in a total of four hours and 15 minutes), doing all he can to set himself up for the business end of the tournament with gas in the tank. He was clinical from start to finish on Day 5, needing just two hours and 15 minutes to lock up his 101st career Australian Open win. The Serbian icon is also one win behind Roger Federer for most Australian Open match wins all-time, he can tie the Swiss with a third-round win and pass him winning again to reach the quarterfinals.
There’s also the fact that Djokovic is bidding to win a record 25th major title as he bids to become the oldest player in the Open Era to win a men’s singles Grand Slam title, but those are problems that the Serbian icon can worry about next week.
On a sunny afternoon inside Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic was concerned with the task at hand. He cleared the opening two sets with ease, saving the only two break points he faced and converting three of nine break points to take a commanding lead against the 23-year-old world No. 141.
After breaking for 2-1, he saved another break point early in the third, to hold for 3-1. Djokovic worked over the Italian for a double-break moments later, converting his fifth break point at the nine-and-a-half-minute mark of the fifth game.
The Italian took one of the breaks back in the next game – a dream come true to be sure – but it was as close as he would get.
More to follow…
