Novak Djokovic extends his ‘crazy’ first-round win in Grand Slams record upon return to the 2023 Australian Open

The Serbian legend has a barely believable record when it comes to first-round matches in Grand Slams


Novak Djokovic extends his ‘crazy’ first-round win in Grand Slams record upon return to the 2023 Australian Open

Novak Djokovic

21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is back at the Australian Open and winning. The nine-time winner of the first Grand Slam of the year defeated Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in straight sets in dominant fashion. He extended an unbelievable record with this landmark victory.

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Djokovic now has a 67-2 record in the Grand Slam first rounds. The two times he crashed out in the first round were when he was still a teenager. He was knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open in 2005 and 2006. Since then, Djokovic has won sixty-seven first-round matches at the majors. He has also secured Grand Slam titles twenty-one times after that. Some record that.

Djokovic was back playing at his favorite tournament and surface after missing out in 2022. But memories of last year’s deportation drama seemed far away as Djokovic pulled off all types of tricks in the match. The Serbian is still not fully fit and is recovering from a hamstring strain he picked up at the Adelaide International. But he looked every bit the world-class player he is as he swept past Carballes Baena.

The Serbian broke the Spaniard’s serve to take a 4-2 lead in the first set. He then proceeded to finish off the set 6-3 with a brilliant ace. He had to work harder in the second set, but Djokovic won it 6-4. The last game of that set was peerless by Djokovic, who won it without dropping a point. The final set was a masterclass by the world No. 5, who took it 6-0, clearly showing the difference between him and his opponent.

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Djokovic thanked the crowd after the game for the rapturous welcome they gave him. He called Melbourne Park the most special court of his life. He also got nostalgic and remembered his first Grand Slam title win, which came in Melbourne. Djokovic paid tribute to the Rod Laver Arena, where the match took place, and cheekily said he gets more comfortable the more he wins there.

Related: Grateful Novak Djokovic thanks his family for their support following his Australian Open first-round victory

Novak Djokovic’s special relationship with the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic

Djokovic has come to Australia with a goal. He wants to be the first player to win ten Australian Open championships. Djokovic will also look to go level with rival Rafael Nadal on 22 Grand Slam titles with this win. He would love to kill two birds with one stone.

Djokovic currently has nine Australian Open titles to his name, the most by any player. Djokovic won the title the last three times he competed. Last year’s deportation was the only thing that stood in his way of extending that record to four. The Serbian legend has returned to Australia and immediately looked at home.

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He lifted the Adelaide International 1 trophy before the Open. He lost just one set in that tournament as he got used to the surfaces again. With such an excellent record in the country and the crowds willing him on, Djokovic is a favorite for the 2023 Australia Open.

Incase you missed it:

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