The Serbian tennis player, Novak Djokovic, defeated Spanish player Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round on Monday, marking his 100th match win at Melbourne Park.
The 38-year-old player began his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title with an impressive straight-sets win at the Australian Open. Djokovic looked calm and in control throughout the match at Rod Laver Arena, where he has won the tournament a record 10 times.
Key factor in winning
Djokovic’s serve was a key factor in his win. He dropped only five points while serving and won 93 per cent of points on his first serve. He served 14 aces and kept winning his serves without trouble. Tennis commentator Mark Woodforde called his serving “exceptional,” though Djokovic humbly said he was just happy to start the tournament strongly.
There had been doubts about Djokovic’s fitness because he skipped the warm-up event in Adelaide and cut short a practice session on Sunday. However, he quickly put those concerns to rest, dominating the match from the start and never letting Martinez back in.
Record-breaking performance
This win also marked Djokovic’s 81st Grand Slam appearance, tying a record held by Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez. With world number one Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Jannik Sinner in the draw, Djokovic’s performance reminded everyone that he is still a major contender.
It was a tough day for some British players. Fran Jones had to retire due to injury, and Jacob Fearnley lost a close match to Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak. The defending champions, Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys, will start their campaigns on Tuesday.
