Djokovic secures 400th Grand Slam match win to extend record, ties Federer’s Australian Open mark

Novak Djokovic reached a historic milestone at the Australian Open on Saturday night, becoming the first player in tennis history to record 400 Grand Slam singles match wins after defeating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the third round.

The victory also marked Djokovic’s 102nd win at the Australian Open, equaling Roger Federer’s record for the most match wins at the season’s first major. The Serbian superstar has dominated the Melbourne courts throughout his career, claiming a record 10 Australian Open titles.

At 36, Djokovic continues his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title, which would further cement his status as the most decorated player in tennis history. His appearance in Melbourne this year already tied records for most Australian Open appearances (21) and most Grand Slam events played (81).

During the match against the Dutch player, Djokovic showed moments of frustration, including an incident in the second set where he angrily swiped a ball that nearly hit a ball girl crouching at the net post.

“I apologized for that. That was not necessary and in the heat of the moment,” Djokovic said after the match. “I was lucky there and I’m sorry for causing any distress to the ball kid or anybody.”

The incident brought back memories of the 2020 U.S. Open, where Djokovic was disqualified after accidentally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball hit in anger, abruptly ending his tournament.

Despite this brief lapse, Djokovic largely maintained control throughout the match. The third set presented some challenges when he took a tumble on the court and later faced two set points in the 12th game. He required medical attention at the changeover, where the trainer taped the ball of his right foot, but he recovered well.

“I managed to have a ‘good’ fall if you can say so, I could protect myself,” Djokovic reflected. “Things could have been pretty ugly.”

The Serbian champion received strong support from the Melbourne crowd, who chanted “Nole, Nole, Nole” as he saved the set points and forced a tiebreaker, which he ultimately won to seal the straight-sets victory.

Djokovic expressed gratitude for playing in the cooler evening conditions on a day when tournament officials had to implement the extreme heat policy. Earlier in the day, defending champion Jannik Sinner struggled in the afternoon heat before advancing.

“I must say, it’s been a great start of the tournament,” Djokovic said, while also noting his cautious approach after learning from last year’s experiences. “Last year I learned a lesson. I got too excited too early in some of the Grand Slams… getting injured three out of four.”

The tennis landscape has shifted in recent years, with younger players like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dividing the four majors between them last year. Djokovic acknowledged their rise but remains determined to compete at the highest level.

“They’re playing on a different level right now,” he admitted, before adding with characteristic confidence: “I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money.”

Djokovic’s statistical dominance extends across all surfaces. He is now the only male player to achieve 100 or more wins on three different Grand Slam surfaces: 102 victories on the grass courts of Wimbledon, 101 on the clay at Roland Garros, and now 102 on the hard courts of Melbourne Park.

As the tournament progresses into its second week, all eyes will be on whether the Serbian can extend his record-breaking run and capture an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title, further distinguishing himself in the tennis history books.