Melbourne, Jan 23: Novak Djokovic advanced comfortably into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday after a commanding straight-sets victory over Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli. The Serb won 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to record his 399th career Grand Slam match win, leaving him just one victory away from becoming the first player ever to reach 400 wins at major tournaments. The 38-year-old fourth seed showed control from start to finish, dropping a service game early but then dominating play with powerful groundstrokes and solid court coverage at Melbourne Park. Djokovic’s win also marks his 101st victory at the Australian Open, reinforcing his long-standing success on these courts.
Djokovic is now set to face either Botic van de Zandschulp or Shang Juncheng in the third round as he continues his bid for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title and a record-extending 25th Grand Slam crown.
The Serbian star’s near-historic milestone comes alongside other notable performances at the tournament, including veteran Stan Wawrinka, who reached the third round at age 40 — the oldest man to do so at a major since 1978 — and other top players such as Jannik Sinner progressing smoothly in their draws.