Novak Djokovic celebrated his 100th career victory at the Australian Open with a commanding straight-set win, underlining his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The 38-year-old Serb dispatched Spain’s Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on Monday night, becoming the first man to log 100 or more match wins at three different majors: 100 in Melbourne, 102 on Wimbledon’s grass, and 101 on Roland Garros clay. He improved to 100-10 at the Australian Open, where he has already lifted 10 trophies.
Djokovic now equals Roger Federer’s appearances mark of 21 Australian Opens and the all-time Grand Slam events record of 81, which Federer shared with Feliciano Lopez.
Milestones in Melbourne
- 100th Australian Open victory
- 10 titles at the same Slam
- 100-plus wins on hard court, grass, and clay at majors
- 24 major championships overall
“History making is a great motivation,” Djokovic said. “Centurion is pretty nice. Nice feeling.”
Statistically, the night was near flawless. He landed 77% of first serves, won 93% of those points, claimed 85% on second serve, and fired 14 aces while never facing a break point.
“Performance-wise, the feeling on the court, it was great. I couldn’t ask for more,” he said. “Obviously a great serving performance … sending the right signal, not just to yourself but to all your opponents.”
Rivalry Radar
Djokovic, who skipped all warmup events to preserve energy for Melbourne, has noticed Carlos Alcaraz tweaked his service motion to mirror the veteran’s compact rhythm. The 22-year-old Spaniard needs an Australian title to complete a career Grand Slam.
“As soon as I saw it, I sent him a message (and) I said, ‘You know, we have to speak about the copyrights!” Djokovic joked. “Then when I saw him here, I told him we have to talk about percentage of his winnings … Every ace I expect a tribute to me!”
The remark drew laughs, but the context is serious: Alcaraz and two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner have split the past eight majors. Djokovic reached the semifinals at all four Slams in 2025 yet has not hoisted one since the 2023 U.S. Open.
Eyes on the Prize
Total prize money for the 2025 tournament rose more than 10%, setting an event record. Singles champions will earn $4.15 million, runners-up $2.15 million, and every main-draw singles and doubles player is guaranteed a double-digit percentage increase over last year.
Six more victories over the next fortnight would give Djokovic sole possession of the men’s all-time Grand Slam lead, moving him past Margaret Court’s 24 majors and into unprecedented territory.
“I’m using every hour that I can to get my body recovered and in shape for the next challenge,” he said, adding that if everything aligns he still believes he can topple anyone.
Key Takeaways
- Djokovic’s 100th Melbourne win cements his status as the only man with triple-surface century marks at Slams
- A dominant first-round display signals intent after nearly 18 months without a major title
- Prize money records and milestone tallies add extra spice to a tournament he has owned for a decade
