The information does not make headlines. However, the Serbian brought down a new prestigious mark hitherto held by “RF” on Wednesday during his match against Jaime Faria in Melbourne. “An honor,” he said.
Facing Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria on Wednesday in the round of 32 of the Australian Open, the Serb won in four sets (6-1 6-7 6-3 6-2). He therefore lost a set, like in the first round, but that is not what we will remember from this confrontation: the main information of the day is that Novak Djokovic played his 430th Grand Slam match.
A staggering figure, which testifies to his longevity at the highest level, and which above all allows him to overtake Roger Federer and his 429 appearances in Major.
Serena Williams is third in this prestigious ranking with 423 appearances over her entire career.
Djokovic played his first match in “GC” exactly 20 years ago in Australia. He was swept away in the first round by the future winner of the tournament Marat Safin (6-0, 6-2, 6-1), who predicted “a very long career” for him.
The Serbian (17 years old) came from qualifying that year. He lost after only 1h14 of play.PA Images
“The Grand Slams are the pillars of our sport, they are the tournaments that motivate young people to follow tennis,” Djokovic said this Wednesday after the match. When I was a kid, I watched the Wimbledon finals when I was 4 or 5 years old. These tournaments have existed for over 130 years, so it’s an honor to break another record.”
He’s hot on Federer’s heels elsewhere too
“Djoko” will inevitably widen the gap in the next round in Melbourne (he will face the 25th in the world Tomas Machac), and can dream of making a little more history, this year under the Australian sun.
If he triumphs in the final, the native of Belgrade would become the only holder of the absolute record for Grand Slam titlesa brand that he currently shares with the Australian Margaret Court and her 24 coronations. The soon-to-be 38-year-old (he will celebrate his birthday on May 22) would also be the oldest winner of a Major.
He would erase the record held by Australian Ken Roswell, who was crowned at the 1972 Australian Open at the age of 37 years, one month and 24 days.
His hunt for honors would then continue beyond the month of January.
- At Wimbledon, the native of Belgrade can hope to equal Federer with an 8th title.
- And at the US Open, he is only one title away from the record of five crowns co-held by Federer, Connors and Pete Sampras.
And then, among all the records within his reach, there is also this mark of 71 coronations on hard court held by Roger Federer and which Novak Djokovic (69 trophies on the surface) has been eyeing for a long time. Knowing that hard is the Serbian’s favorite surface and that the latter plans to play until at least 40, this record is undoubtedly that of Federer who is the most in danger.
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Malorie Blanc took 2nd place in the St-Anton downhill, just 0”07 behind Federica Brignone.
We imagined the race completed and the podium completed. We thought it wasn’t Swiss women’s day in Austria. And then Malorie Blanc arrived with her bib 46. Fourth in the training alone, the Valaisanne who has just celebrated her 21st birthday had proven that she was at ease on this track, but from there to be confirmed in the race, there was a certain milestone to cross.
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