Novak Djokovic began his latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title with an emphatic straight-sets victory on Monday as fellow Australian Open title contenders Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff also won but with less fanfare.
Three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev remained alive, as did 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka, who turned back the clock to reach the second round in his tournament farewell.
The great Serbian Djokovic, 38, tamed Spaniard Pedro Martinez, 71st in the world, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on the Rod Laver Arena, a court where he won a record 10 Australian Open crowns.
The world number four has 24 major titles, a record with Australian Margaret Court, but the 25th remains woefully out of reach.
His last came at the 2023 US Open with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz sharing the eight since then.
“What can I say? I like the sound. Centurion is pretty nice,” he said after his 100th Australian Open victory.
“I always do my best every time I’m on the field. Obviously, making history is a big motivation, and especially in the last 5 to 10 years of my career.”
2014 champion Wawrinka survived to fight another day with a courageous four-set victory.
The three-time major winner is playing his last season before retiring and gave everything to defeat Serbian Laslo Djere 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in front of a crowd ready for victory.
“The passion is still intact. But I’m not young anymore, so I also have to be careful,” said the Swiss workhorse, who made his debut at the Australian Open in 2006.
Medvedev, runner-up in 2021, 2022 and 2024, warmed up for Melbourne with a win in Brisbane and cruised to a 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) first-round victory over Dutchman Jesper de Jong.
The famously fiery Russian said he was trying to be more “positive” on the pitch.
“So far I’m doing well,” he said.
Sixth seed Alex de Minaur, the great local hope, also claimed victory in straight sets on another hot day when temperatures reached around 30C and record crowds of more than 100,000 had to queue to enter Melbourne Park.
However, the tournament is over for Félix Auger-Aliassime, seventh seed, who abandoned his match due to cramps.
Auger-Aliassime won the first set 6-3 against Nuno Borges, but then lost the next two before calling it quits.
“I want to be on the field competing with my opponent. I don’t want to be there like a punching bag,” he said.
The same fate befell tearful compatriot Marina Stakusic, who was taken away in a wheelchair as she found herself cramped against local player Priscilla Hon.
‘Overwhelming’
In the women’s draw, six-time major winner Swiatek had to work in an unexpected way against Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue.
The Polish second seed, who will complete a career Grand Slam at all four majors if she breaks her Australian Open duck, ultimately beat her fiery opponent 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
“I was a little rusty at first,” Swiatek said.
“Of course there are a lot of ups and downs, but overall I have things to work on.”
Gauff beat Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3, but she was also unconvincing early on and struggled with her serve.
“I’m only satisfied if I win, but I’m proud of myself no matter how I do,” she said.
Her reward will then be a clash with Venus Williams’ conqueror Olga Danilovic.
Like Swiatek, Gauff has not yet made it past the final four in Melbourne.
Gauff’s fellow American, Amanda Anisimova, seeded fourth, began her quest for a third consecutive major final with a ruthless victory over Switzerland’s Simona Waltert, 6-3, 6-2.
Sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula and eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva also advanced.
However, former champion Sofia Kenin crashed out, as did Alexandra Eala, despite maniacal support from Filipino fans.
Eala, 20, was competing in the main draw for the first time and even the training sessions were invaded by a large number of his compatriots.
“I think this week there were definitely elements that were a little overwhelming,” she said of the support provided after a three-set loss to Alycia Parks.
