Djokovic overcomes Faria in four sets, Alcaraz cruises to Australian Open third round

Novak Djokovic has secured his place in the Australian Open third round on Wednesday with a challenging 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2 victory over 21-year-old qualifier Jaime Faria.

Despite being tested by a second consecutive Grand Slam debutant, Djokovic demonstrated his experience and resilience, continuing his pursuit of a record 25th major grand slam title and 100th tour-level crown.

“I think I responded very well in the third and particularly fourth set, the way I ended the match,” Djokovic said. “He was playing lights-out tennis towards the end of the second set and beginning of the third. I had to weather the storm.”

With a renewed focus and tactical adjustments, Djokovic regained control, facing just one break point in the final two sets. He won 90% of his first-serve points during that period, closing out the match in three hours.

Third Round Showdown with Tomas Machac

Djokovic will next face 26th-seeded Tomas Machac, who overcame Reilly Opelka in a five-set battle earlier on Wednesday. The Serbian and Machac have split their previous two encounters, with their most recent meeting in 2024 at the Geneva Open semifinals going Machac’s way.

This victory also marked Djokovic’s 430th Grand Slam singles match, breaking Roger Federer’s record for the most played in tennis history among men and women. Reflecting on the milestone, Djokovic said, “I love this sport. I love competition. It’s been over 20 years of playing Grand Slams at the highest level. Whether I win or lose, I always leave my heart out on the court.”