Novak Djokovic began his latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam crown with an emphatic straight-sets victory Monday as fellow Australian Open title contenders Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff also won but with less sparkle.
Three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev stayed alive, as did 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka, who rolled back the clock to reach the second round in his tournament farewell.
Straightforward win
Serbian great Djokovic, 38, tamed Spain’s 71st-ranked Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena, a court where he has won a record 10 Australian Open crowns.
The World No. 4 owns 24 major titles, equal for the most ever with Australia’s Margaret Court, but a 25th has remained agonisingly out of reach. His last came at the 2023 US Open with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz sharing all eight since then. “What can I say? I like the sound of it. Centurion is pretty nice,” he said after his 100th victory at the Australian Open.
“I always give my best whenever I’m on the court. Obviously, history-making is a great motivation, and particularly in the last 5-10 years of my career,” he added.
The 2014 champion Wawrinka lived to fight another day with a gutsy four-set victory. The three-time major winner is playing his last season before retiring and gave his all to down Serbia’s Laslo Djere 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in front of a crowd willing him to victory.
Medvedev, runner-up in 2021, 2022 and 2024, warmed up for Melbourne with victory in Brisbane and ground to a 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) opening round win over Dutchman Jesper de Jong.
Iga Swiatek celebrates winning the first set against Yuan Yue on Monday
Swiatek, Gauff progress
In the women’s draw, six-time major winner Swiatek was made to work unexpectedly hard against Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue. The Polish second seed, who will complete a career Grand Slam of all four majors if she breaks her Australian Open duck, eventually saw off her spirited opponent 7-6 (7/5), 6-3. “I was a bit rusty at the beginning,” said Swiatek. “For sure many ups and downs, but overall I have some stuff to work on.”
Meanwhile, Gauff beat Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3, but was also less than convincing at the start and struggled with her serve. “I am only satisfied if I win, but I am proud of myself regardless of how I get on,” she said.
Gauff’s fellow American, fourth seed Amanda Anisimova, began her quest for a third consecutive major final with a ruthless win over Switzerland’s Simona Waltert, 6-3, 6-2.
19
No. of consecutive wins Novak Djokovic has in Round One of the Aus Open
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