In a display of vintage tennis, Novak Djokovic etched his name deeper into Grand Slam lore at the Australian Open. The 36-year-old Serb notched his 400th main draw victory by outlasting Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4), equaling Roger Federer’s 102 triumphs at Melbourne Park.
Griekspoor, making waves as a qualifier, tested the top seed relentlessly. He surged to a 3-0 lead in set two amid a shoulder niggle that forced a medical timeout. Djokovic, however, reset swiftly, his baseline mastery overwhelming the Dutchman’s power game.
A slip in the third set led to Djokovic’s brief medical pause, and he conceded serve right after. Trailing 5-6, he summoned champion resolve, erasing set points and sealing the tiebreak with precision. This marked his 18th fourth-round entry in 21 Australian Open campaigns.
‘Fantastic tournament start, but keeping emotions in check,’ Djokovic reflected courtside. ‘Learned from last year—don’t celebrate too soon. I’m holding strong against these rising stars.’ Not a set dropped yet, he’s poised for Mensik or Quinn next, with Sinner lurking in semis.
Acknowledging the new guard, he noted, ‘Alcaraz and Sinner dominate, but every match brings opportunity, especially here where my legacy thrives.’ Djokovic’s poise positions him perfectly for another deep run, fueling dreams of Slam No. 25.
