Djokovic Surpasses Federer with 430th Grand Slam Matches in Tennis History/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Novak Djokovic broke Roger Federer’s record for the most Grand Slam matches played, reaching 430 with his second-round win at the Australian Open. Djokovic defeated Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria in four sets, adding another milestone to his already illustrious career.
Novak Djokovic’s Historic Milestone: Quick Looks
- Record-Breaker: Djokovic surpasses Federer’s 429 Grand Slam matches.
- Match Stats: Defeated Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2.
- Grand Slam Wins: Improved career record to 379-51 (.881 winning percentage).
- Future Milestones: Could secure a 25th Grand Slam title and 11th Australian Open championship.
- Coaching Change: First tournament with Andy Murray as his coach.
Djokovic Surpasses Federer with 430th Grand Slam Matches in Tennis History
Deep Look:
Historic Achievement
Novak Djokovic cemented his place in tennis history yet again by playing his 430th Grand Slam match, surpassing Roger Federer’s record of 429. The achievement came during a second-round victory at the Australian Open against 21-year-old Jaime Faria.
“Grand Slams are the pillars of our sport. They mean everything for the history of the sport,” Djokovic said after the match. “I’m blessed to be making another record today.”
Match Highlights
- Djokovic won the first set comfortably but encountered resistance in the second set, which Faria took in a tiebreak.
- After regrouping, Djokovic dominated the final two sets, showcasing his experience and resilience.
- The match was briefly interrupted by light rain, prompting the closure of Rod Laver Arena’s roof.
Career Dominance
Djokovic’s record-breaking match adds to a long list of achievements:
- Most Grand Slam Titles: 24, ahead of Rafael Nadal (22) and Federer (20).
- Grand Slam Finals: Played in 37 finals, six more than Federer’s previous record.
- Weeks at No. 1: Djokovic holds the record for the most weeks as the top-ranked player.
Future Records in Sight
Djokovic’s ongoing campaign at the Australian Open could yield even more milestones:
- 25th Grand Slam Title: A victory in Melbourne would set a new record for most Grand Slam titles, male or female.
- 11th Australian Open Win: He could tie Margaret Court’s record for most titles at a single Grand Slam.
- Oldest Open Era Champion: At 37, Djokovic could surpass Ken Rosewall as the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open era.
Early Challenges
Despite his experience, Djokovic has been pushed to four sets in both matches so far.
- First Round: Faced Nishesh Basavareddy, a 19-year-old American ranked 107th.
- Second Round: Played Jaime Faria, ranked 125th, who gave Djokovic a tough second set.
“He was playing lights-out tennis,” Djokovic said of Faria. “I had to weather the storm and responded very well in the third and fourth sets.”
Partnership with Andy Murray
The Australian Open marks Djokovic’s first tournament with former rival Andy Murray as his coach. The collaboration has added intrigue to his campaign, with fans eager to see how their partnership unfolds.
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