Novak Djokovic overcame a spirited challenge from Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria to secure his place in the Australian Open third round on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old triumphed 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena, marking his 430th Grand Slam singles match and surpassing Roger Federer (429) for the most singles matches played in the Open Era. Serena Williams (423) sits third on the list.
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“I love this sport, I love competition,” Djokovic said after the match. “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.”
Despite a straightforward opening set, Djokovic faced unexpected resistance from the 125th-ranked Faria, who rallied in the second set to force a tiebreak and win it, leveling the match. The young qualifier, who secured his maiden Tour-level victory in the first round, showed flashes of brilliance but struggled to maintain momentum as Djokovic’s experience and composure came to the fore.
With rain prompting the stadium roof to close, Djokovic found his rhythm, dominating the third and fourth sets to seal the victory. Post-match, he praised Faria’s performance, saying, “He was playing lights-out tennis. He’s a young guy. I told him at the net that the future is bright for him.”
Djokovic’s victory sets up a third-round clash with Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac. The Serb is chasing an 11th Australian Open title and an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam crown.
