4 months ago
2
Record-shattering Novak Djokovic became the archetypal subordinate to triumph 400 Grand Slam matches Saturday connected his mode into the past 16 astatine the Australian Open.
The 38-year-old Serbian large swept past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) nether a closed extortion connected centre tribunal to widen his ain all-time grounds of lucifer wins astatine the majors.
Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are adjacent best.
Victory was besides his 102nd astatine Melbourne Park, wherever helium has won 10 titles, to adjacent Federer with astir Australian Open singles wins.
Djokovic's reward is simply a fourth-round clash with either Czech rising prima Jakub Mensik oregon American tourney debutant Ethan Quinn whose lucifer was delayed owed to utmost heat.
Also Read | Australia Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz celebrates 100th Slam lucifer with casual win
The 24-time Slam victor is successful bully signifier truthful acold arsenic helium bids to shatter the caller dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. "I'm inactive trying to springiness these young guys a propulsion for their money," said Djokovic. "I'm inactive around. I'm hanging successful there.
"Obviously, Alcaraz and Sinner are the 2 champion players successful the world. They're playing connected a antithetic level from each of america close now. "But, you know, erstwhile you participate the tribunal and the shot rolls, you ever person a chance."
The 75th-ranked van de Zandschulp upset Djokovic successful 3 sets astatine Indian Wells past year, but ne'er looked similar pulling disconnected different shock.
The 4th effect coiled backmost the timepiece with immoderate phenomenal tennis successful acceptable one, securing the captious interruption successful the 4th crippled aft a mammoth 26-point rally.
He broke the Dutchman again connected his opening service connected the 2nd acceptable and moved to 4-2, but it was a conflict and helium became noticeably much irritable.
At 1 point, helium smacked a shot towards an advertizing hoarding retired of vexation and astir deed a shot kid, rapidly apologising.
Djokovic got enactment connected his ft during a aesculapian clip successful acceptable three, seemingly for a blister, arsenic they exchanged breaks and the acceptable went to a tiebreak wherever helium proved the astir resilient.
Djokovic has been tied with Margaret Court connected 24 large titles since winning the US Open successful 2023.
