MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic continues to redefine tennis excellence, achieving yet another unprecedented milestone during Saturday night’s third-round match at the Australian Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion secured his 400th victory in major tournaments with a commanding 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) performance against Dutch contender Botic van de Zandschulp.
This triumph elevates Djokovic’s Australian Open record to 102-10, matching Roger Federer’s all-time match win tally at the season’s opening major. The 38-year-old Serbian icon, pursuing an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title and record-breaking 25th Grand Slam championship, demonstrated near-total dominance throughout the evening session.
The match encountered minimal disruption until the third set when Djokovic experienced an on-court stumble during the third game, followed by facing two set points in the twelfth game. A strategic medical timeout allowed for taping of his right foot, while a precisely executed forehand winner down the line neutralized the immediate threat. Chair umpire John Blom repeatedly intervened to quiet the crowd during critical serving moments.
An animated Djokovic captivated spectators by theatrically heading an imaginary soccer ball after saving the second set point, sparking enthusiastic “Nole, Nole, Nole” chants throughout Rod Laver Arena. He subsequently closed the match in a tiebreaker.
Reflecting on his physical condition, Djokovic noted: “I managed to have a ‘good’ fall if you can say so. Things could have been pretty ugly.” He expressed satisfaction with his tournament progression while acknowledging lessons from last season: “I got too excited too early in some of the Grand Slams… getting injured three out of four.”
The victory adds to Djokovic’s extraordinary record collection, having previously equaled two all-time marks by commencing his 21st Australian Open and 81st Grand Slam event. He now stands as the first male player to achieve 100+ wins on three different Grand Slam surfaces—102 at Wimbledon (grass), 101 at Roland Garros (clay), and 102 at Melbourne Park (hard court).