Old master Novak Djokovic continues his record hunt at the Australian Open undeterred. The 38-year-old Serb also won his second round match against Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli after an impressive performance 6:3, 6:2, 6:2 – and thus achieved his 101st victory in Melbourne.
Djokovic, who has triumphed ten times on the Yarra River and is still chasing his 25th title on the biggest stage, is only missing one success to catch up with record holder Roger Federer (102 wins). With a win in the third round, Djokovic would not only draw level with the Swiss, he would also extend his own record to 400 wins in Grand Slam matches.
Djokovic: “I don’t underestimate anyone”
Djokovic is aware that in times of dominance by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner he only has an outsider’s chance of the big coup. Nevertheless, he wants to try everything. “I don’t underestimate anyone,” he said after his success over the qualifier Maestrelli.
Lorenzo Musetti, fifth in the world rankings, had previously prevailed in the prestigious duel against his Italian compatriot Lorenzo Sonego. The two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist beat his Davis Cup colleague 6:3, 6:3, 6:4 after a concentrated performance.
Last year’s semi-finalist Ben Shelton quickly dispatched Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny. The eighth-seeded American only needed 102 minutes for the 6:3, 6:2, 6:2.
