Novak Djokovic overcame a spirited challenge from Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria to win 6-1, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, advancing to the Australian Open third round on Wednesday.
In doing so, Djokovic set a new Grand Slam record with his 430th singles match, surpassing Roger Federer’s 429 matches in the Open era.
The 37-year-old Serbian, who now faces Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac, acknowledged the milestone. “I love this sport and competition,” Djokovic said. “Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart on the court.”
After taking the first set in just 30 minutes, Djokovic encountered resistance as Faria claimed the second set in a tiebreak.
However, Djokovic’s composure and experience shone through as he dominated the final two sets to seal victory.
“He was playing lights-out tennis,” Djokovic said of the 21-year-old opponent. “The future is bright for him.”
Djokovic remains on course for another Melbourne title, marking his 17th consecutive third-round appearance at the tournament.
