MELBOURNE — The numbers alone are staggering. A 100th match win at the Australian Open. A 32nd consecutive victory at Melbourne Park. A 93rd first-round Grand Slam triumph, extending his own record. But on a cool Tuesday evening at Rod Laver Arena, Novak Djokovic’s 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 dismantling of Spain’s Pedro Martínez was less about statistics and more about a statement. In his first competitive match of 2024, the 10-time champion served notice that, despite recent wrist concerns and a formidable new generation nipping at his heels, his reign on these blue plexicushion courts remains as authoritative as ever.
Facing world No. 122 Martínez, Djokovic delivered what can only be described as a serving masterclass. Over one hour and 41 minutes of near-flawless tennis, the Serbian superstar dropped a mere five points on his first serve, winning an astonishing 88 of 93 total service points. He faced not a single break point. He committed just three unforced errors in the first two sets combined. The performance was so ruthlessly efficient that it left the capacity crowd, and perhaps Martínez himself, in a state of awe-struck admiration.
A Serve That Silenced All Doubt
All pre-tournament chatter had centered on Djokovic’s right wrist, an issue that hampered him during the United Cup and cast a shadow over his title defense. Any concerns were emphatically erased from the first service game. Djokovic’s delivery was a weapon of pinpoint precision and devastating variety. He consistently found the lines with his first serve, averaging close to 200 km/h, and followed it with a second serve so heavy and deep that Martínez could barely mount a meaningful return. The Spaniard, a capable clay-court grinder, was simply never allowed into the match.
“I think the serve worked very well,” Djokovic said in his typically understated manner during his on-court interview. “For the first match, I couldn’t ask for a better start. Of course, you always feel a bit more stress and tension coming into the first Grand Slam of the year. You want to start well. I started extremely well.” The numbers bore out his confidence, highlighting a near-impenetrable service fortress:
- First Serve Points Won: 33 out of 38 (87%)
- Second Serve Points Won: 20 out of 22 (91%)
- Total Service Points Won: 88 out of 93 (95%)
- Aces: 11
Martínez, to his credit, tried to mix up his return position and apply pressure, but Djokovic’s adaptability was on full display. When the Spaniard stepped in, Djokovic went for the body or the wide slice. When he stayed back, a booming flat serve followed. It was a tactical puzzle with no solution for the qualifier. “When he serves like this, it’s almost impossible to play,” Martínez conceded in his post-match press conference.
The Historic Century in Melbourne
The victory marked Djokovic’s 100th match win at the Australian Open, a milestone that further cements his status as the tournament’s greatest champion. He joins Roger Federer (102 wins at Wimbledon) as the only men in the Open Era to reach a century of victories at a single Grand Slam event. The significance of the round number was not lost on the 36-year-old, who has transformed Melbourne Park into his personal fortress since first lifting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in 2008.
“It means everything,” Djokovic said of the 100-win club. “This court has been the most special court in my life. The results prove that. I’m just very grateful that I can still play at this level. The love affair continues.” His record at the season’s first major now stands at a scarcely believable 100-9, with his last defeat coming in 2018. The aura of invincibility he carries here is palpable, a psychological hurdle as daunting for opponents as his physical prowess.
A Glimpse of the Complete Arsenal
While the serve was the headline act, the rest of Djokovic’s game was in fine working order. His movement, a key indicator of his physical state, was fluid and explosive. He glided along the baseline, redirecting Martínez’s heavier shots with ease and transitioning to the net to finish points with crisp volleys. His backhand down the line, a signature shot, was particularly lethal, repeatedly breaking open the court. Perhaps most telling was his relentless return game, which constantly put Martínez’s serve under siege, breaking the Spaniard six times.
This comprehensive display sent a clear message to the rest of the draw. “It’s very obvious that he’s the favorite,” said former champion Jim Courier in commentary. “What we saw tonight was a player who has managed the pre-tournament noise perfectly, channeled any anxiety into focus, and executed his game plan without a flicker of doubt. When he’s in this mode, especially here, he’s the man to beat.”
The Road Ahead and Rival Reactions
Djokovic will face either Alexei Popyrin or fellow Australian Marc Polmans in the second round, a match where he will expect to raise his level further. The early rounds are often about negotiation for the great champions—advancing efficiently while conserving energy. Djokovic accomplished that mission with a performance that bordered on the surgical. The question now shifts from his fitness to whether anyone can find a crack in his armor over the next two weeks.
Rivals took note. Carlos Alcaraz, the Wimbledon champion and a potential final opponent, watched closely. Jannik Sinner, the recent victor over Djokovic at the Davis Cup and another top contender, will have seen the sheer percentage of service points won. The challenge for them, and everyone else, is clear: to have any chance, they must first find a way to disrupt the Djokovic serve, a task that on Tuesday night looked Herculean.
As he left the court to a roaring ovation, Djokovic gave his signature heart gestures to all four sides of the stadium. The connection with the Melbourne crowd, once complicated, is now one of mutual adoration. They are witnessing history with every match he plays. For Djokovic, the pursuit of an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title and a 25th Grand Slam crown is underway. “The journey has begun again,” he said with a smile. Based on this opening salvo, it is a journey that looks destined for its now-familiar destination deep into the final weekend.