Aus Open: Djokovic Breaks Federer's Record For Most Grand Slam Matches Played With Win Over Faria

Aus Open: Djokovic breaks Federer's record for most Grand Slam matches played with win over Faria (Image Source: IANS)

Czech Tomas Machac: The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has moved past Swiss legend Roger Federer to claim the all-time record for most major singles matches played among men and women by contesting in his 430th Grand Slam singles match.

The 10-time Australian Open winner battled past 21-year-old qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday moving past Federer's tally of 429.

The Serb is through to the third round of the season first major for the 17th time in 20 appearances to continue his quest for a 25th major singles title and 100th tour-level crown.

"I think I responded very well in the third and particularly fourth set, the way I ended the match. He was playing lights-out tennis towards the end of the second set and beginning of the third. I had to weather the storm. He's been practically serving two first serves the entire match.

“It's not easy to play someone like that who doesn't have obviously anything to lose coming out. He's a big guy, very young, so I told him at the net, the future is bright for him, he should keep going," Djokovic was quoted saying by ATP website.

Next up for Djokovic will be a third-round meeting with 26th-seeded Czech Tomas Machac, a 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-4 winner against Reilly Opelka earlier on Wednesday. The pair split two previous Lexus ATP Head-to-Head meetings in 2023 and 2024, with Machac winning their most recent showdown in last year's Geneva semi-finals.

“It's not easy to play someone like that who doesn't have obviously anything to lose coming out. He's a big guy, very young, so I told him at the net, the future is bright for him, he should keep going," Djokovic was quoted saying by ATP website.

Article Source: IANS