Djokovic Breaks Grand Slam Record at Australian Open 2025

MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic made history at the Australian Open on Wednesday, surpassing Roger Federer‘s record for the most Grand Slam singles matches played. The 37-year-old Serbian defeated Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2 in the second round, marking his 430th major singles match.

Djokovic’s victory not only secured his place in the third round but also cemented his status as the sole record holder for the most Grand Slam singles matches played among both men and women. Federer, who retired in 2021, previously held the record with 429 matches.

“I love this sport. I love competition,” Djokovic said after the match. “I try to give my best every single time. It’s been over 20 years that I’ve been competing in Grand Slams at the highest level. Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I’m just blessed to be making another record.”

The win also made Djokovic the first man over 30 to reach 150 Grand Slam singles victories. He now eyes a 25th major title, which would surpass Australia’s Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles in history.

Djokovic’s next challenge comes in the form of Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac, who he will face in the third round. The Serbian star has three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in his coaching box, adding another layer of intrigue to his campaign.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Norwegian sixth seed Casper Ruud suffered a surprising exit, falling 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik. Mensik and Brazilian qualifier Joao Fonseca, who also defeated a top-10 opponent earlier in the week, became the first teenagers to achieve such feats at the same Grand Slam since Djokovic and Murray at Wimbledon in 2006.

German second seed Alexander Zverev advanced with a dominant 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Spain’s Pedro Martinez, setting up a third-round clash.

Djokovic’s performance in Melbourne continues to showcase his enduring dominance in the sport. “I think I responded well in the third set and particularly the fourth,” he said. “He was playing lights-out tennis at the end of the second set and start of the third, and I had to weather the storm. I told him at the net, ‘the future is bright for you, so carry on.'”