Novak Djokovic Starts Australian Open Campaign with Historic Goal
A defiant Novak Djokovic steps onto the court at Melbourne Park today. The Serbian tennis legend begins his latest quest to win a record 25th Grand Slam crown. He faces Spain's Pedro Martinez in the final match on Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic Eyes Melbourne Dominance Again
At 38 years old, Djokovic remains the undisputed king of Melbourne's hard courts. He has won the Australian Open a record ten times. His last Grand Slam victory came at the US Open in 2023. Now ranked world number four, he shares the record of 24 major titles with Australia's Margaret Court.
A 25th Grand Slam title has stayed just out of reach for him. Younger stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner now dominate the tour. Yet Djokovic remains confident about his chances in Melbourne.
He said on the eve of the tournament, "I know that when I'm healthy, when I'm able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together on a given day, I feel like I can beat anybody." He added, "I like my chances always in any tournament, particularly here."
Top Contenders Gauff and Swiatek Also in Action
The second day of the Australian Open features several other big names. American star Coco Gauff opens proceedings on Rod Laver Arena against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova. The 21-year-old third seed won the US Open in 2023 and the French Open last year.
Her best performance at the Australian Open remains the semi-finals. Poland's Iga Swiatek, the second seed, also plays today. She meets Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue. Swiatek has never gone beyond the last four in Melbourne either.
Like Alcaraz, Swiatek aims for a career Grand Slam. She has already triumphed at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the French Open.
Medvedev, De Minaur, and Other Stars Enter the Fray
Russia's Daniil Medvedev, the 11th seed, starts his campaign today. He was runner-up in Melbourne in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Medvedev warmed up with a victory in Brisbane. He believes he could be hard to beat this year.
He said, "I know that when I'm playing good there are not that many players that can beat me easily or at all." He meets Jesper de Jong of the Netherlands.
Australia's Alex de Minaur, the sixth seed, will have strong home support. He plays against Mackenzie McDonald of the United States on Rod Laver Arena. De Minaur has never gone beyond the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam.
Notable Matches and Players to Watch
Other key matches on day two include:
- American Amanda Anisimova, the fourth seed and last year's Wimbledon and US Open runner-up, faces Switzerland's Simona Waltert.
- Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, fresh from winning her fourth title, takes on Croatia's Donna Vekic.
- 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, aged 40, plays in his last Australian Open before retirement after receiving a wildcard.
- Top-10 seeds Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and Jessica Pegula of the United States also feature.
The bumper second day promises thrilling tennis action as the tournament heats up.
