Djokovic wins record 400th Slam match to power Australia

Record-breaking Novak Djokovic on Saturday became the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches on his way to the last 16 at the Australian Open.

The 38-year-old Serbian star defeated Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) under a closed roof on center court and extended his own record of match victories at the Majors.

Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are the next best.

The victory was also his 102nd at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles, equaling Federer with the most singles wins at the Australian Open.

Djokovic’s reward is a fourth-round clash with Czech rising star Jakub Mensik or American tournament debutant Ethan Quinn, whose match was postponed due to the extreme heat.

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The 24-time Slam winner is in good form as far as trying to break the recent dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “I’m still trying to push these young guys,” Djokovic said. ‘I’m still here. I’ll stay there.

“It’s clear that Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world. They’re playing at a different level than all of us right now. But you know, when you step on the field and roll the ball, you always have a chance.”

The 75th-ranked van de Zandschulp upset Djokovic in three sets at Indian Wells last year but never looked likely to pull off another upset.

The fourth seed turned back the clock with phenomenal tennis in set one, securing the crucial break in the fourth game after a massive 26-point rally.

He broke the Dutchman again on his opening serve in the second set to move to 4-2, but it was a struggle and he became noticeably more irritable.

At one point he hit a ball towards a billboard out of frustration and almost hit a ball child, quickly apologizing.

Djokovic had work done on his foot during a medical time in set three, apparently for a blister, as they traded breaks and the set went to a tiebreak where he proved most resilient.

Djokovic is tied with Margaret Court on 24 major titles since winning the 2023 US Open.