In a remarkable display of skill and resilience, Novak Djokovic achieved his 100th match victory at the Australian Open, solidifying his status as one of the tournament’s all-time greats. The 38-year-old Serbian defeated Pedro Martinez in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, during the first round on January 15, 2024. This victory marks a significant milestone as he becomes the first male player to win 100 or more matches at three Grand Slam tournaments.
Djokovic, who has already claimed a record 10 Australian Open titles among his 24 major championships, expressed his satisfaction with the achievement. “I like the sound of it,” he remarked. “Centurion is pretty nice.” This match also marked his participation in a record 21st Australian Open and his 81st Grand Slam tournament.
In contrast, Iga Swiatek, the world’s No. 2-ranked player, faced challenges during her opening match against Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue, ranked No. 130. Swiatek emerged victorious with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-3, but acknowledged that she has areas to improve as she strives for her first Australian Open title and a career Grand Slam.
Swiatek struggled to find her rhythm early in the match, trailing 5-3 before rallying to win the first set in a tiebreak. “I was a bit rusty at the beginning,” she admitted. “Many ups and downs, but overall I have some stuff to work on. I’ll just focus on that.” The Polish player, who won Wimbledon last year along with four French Open titles and the 2022 U.S. Open, is now focused solely on overcoming her early hurdles in the tournament.
The first round also saw other notable performances. Coco Gauff, the No. 3 seed, overcame her early struggles to beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3, despite recording six double-faults in the first set. “Once I got through that game, it was pretty much smooth sailing,” Gauff reflected.
Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula, seeded No. 4 and No. 6 respectively, advanced in straight sets. Other players progressing to the next round included Mirra Andreeva, Victoria Mboko, and Paula Badosa.
Unfortunately, the tournament was not as kind to former champion Sofia Kenin, who faced her fifth consecutive first-round exit after losing to fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-2. Additionally, No. 15 Emma Navarro fell in a three-set battle against Magda Linette.
In a concerning moment, Australian player Priscilla Hon advanced to the second round for the first time in six years but witnessed her opponent Marina Stakusic leave the court in a wheelchair due to severe leg cramps. The situation mirrored another incident involving Canadian No. 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime, who retired from his match against Nuno Borges while trailing 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
As the tournament progresses, former champion Stan Wawrinka initiated his farewell season at the Slams with a hard-fought victory over Laslo Djere, winning 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Wawrinka confirmed that 2026 will mark his final year on the elite tour, stating, “It’s been too long that I’m coming back! The passion is still intact. Today was amazing. I’m so happy that I won.”
The opening day of the tournament attracted a record crowd, with a combined total of 101,696 fans flocking to Melbourne Park, surpassing the previous daily record of 100,763 set just the day prior. As the Australian Open unfolds, both Djokovic and Swiatek will look to navigate the challenges ahead in pursuit of their respective objectives.
