Novak Djokovic continues to etch his name in tennis history, securing his 24th Grand Slam singles title, the most by any man. At 37, the Serbian tennis legend remains a formidable force, having spent more weeks at No. 1 in the rankings than any other player. In a second-round match at Melbourne Park, Djokovic defeated Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria, 21, with a score of 6-1, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2. The match was briefly interrupted by light rain but culminated in a triumph that further solidified Djokovic's legacy.
Carlos Alcaraz also made headlines with a swift victory over Nishioka, finishing 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 in just 81 minutes. Alcaraz's performance was a testament to his offseason efforts to enhance his serve. The young Spaniard expressed satisfaction with his progress and now looks ahead to facing unseeded Nuno Borges for a place in the fourth round.
Djokovic's latest victory marks his 37th appearance in a Slam final, surpassing Roger Federer's previous record of 31. His career statistics are equally impressive, boasting a 379-51 win-loss record at major tournaments, an .881 winning percentage. This latest match saw Djokovic improve his serve remarkably, winning 32 of 36 first serve points (89%), his career's highest percentage in any major match. The Serbian ace also accumulated 14 aces against three double-faults, giving Faria no break point chances.
"Grand Slams, of course, they are the pillars of our sport. They mean everything for the history of the sport…. Definitely the most important tournaments," said Novak Djokovic.
In addition to setting new benchmarks, Djokovic passed another milestone by reaching 430 major matches played in the Open era, surpassing Federer once more. Another Grand Slam victory would bring Djokovic's total to 25 titles—a record—and would mark his 100th tour-level tournament win. Only Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer hold more in the Open era with 109 and 103 titles respectively among men.
"I'm just blessed to be making another record, I guess, today," Djokovic reflected on his achievements.
Carlos Alcaraz's stellar performance against Nishioka showcased the fruits of his offseason labor on improving his serve. With potential to make deeper runs in tournaments, Alcaraz aims to join an elite class of Grand Slam champions.
"That's one of the reasons I really want to win this tournament one day, just to put my name on that short list," Carlos Alcaraz shared his ambitions.
Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals last year—his best finish at a major—and aspires to exceed that achievement this season. His efficiency on court reflects a strategic approach to conserving energy for later stages of the tournament.
"The less time you spend on the court in the Grand Slams, especially at the beginning of the tournament, it's gonna be better, especially physically," he remarked.
"I'm really happy with the serve today, it's something that I worked on," Alcaraz added.
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