MELBOURNE: Record-shattering Novak Djokovic became the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches Saturday on his way into the last 16 at the Australian Open.
The 38-year-old Serbian great swept past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) under a closed roof on center court to extend his own all-time record of match wins at the majors.
Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are next best.
Victory was also his 102nd at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles, to equal Federer with most Australian Open singles wins.
Djokovic’s reward is a fourth-round clash with either Czech rising star Jakub Mensik or American tournament debutant Ethan Quinn whose match was delayed due to extreme heat.
The 24-time Slam winner is in good form so far as he bids to shatter the recent dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
“I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money,” said Djokovic. “I’m still around. I’m hanging in there.
“Obviously Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world. They’re playing on a different level from all of us right now.
“But, you know, when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance.”
The 75th-ranked van de Zandschulp upset Djokovic in three sets at Indian Wells last year, but never looked like pulling off another shock.
The fourth seed wound back the clock with some phenomenal tennis in set one, securing the critical break in the fourth game after a mammoth 26-point rally.
He broke the Dutchman again on his opening serve on the second set and moved to 4-2, but it was a struggle and he became noticeably more irritable.
At one point, he smacked a ball toward an advertising hoarding out of frustration and nearly hit a ball kid, quickly apologizing.
Djokovic got work on his foot during a medical time in set three, seemingly for a blister, as they exchanged breaks and the set went to a tiebreak where he proved the most resilient.
Djokovic has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 major titles since winning the US Open in 2023.