Djokovic hits a magic milestone in Melbourne as he celebrates his 100th match

One hundred – a round number celebrated across cultures and various aspects of life, a milestone that holds significance and demands recognition in different arenas, including sports.

In the realm of athletics, the number 100 carries even greater weight. The 100-metre sprint stands out as the premier event at the Olympic Games, while milestones like 100 appearances in football, a 'century break' in snooker, and reaching 100 runs in cricket are met with applause and acknowledgment.

Tennis, too, follows this pattern. Players often speak of the importance of breaking into the 'top 100' in rankings. However, for a select few, the number 100 takes on a more exceptional meaning.


At Melbourne Park on Friday, Novak Djokovic achieves yet another remarkable milestone as he competes in his 100th Australian Open main draw match, facing Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry at Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic, being the extraordinary athlete he is, has surpassed 100 matches at each Grand Slam. On Day 6, the 36-year-old completes the feat at the Australian Open, having already achieved this milestone in Paris (108), Wimbledon (103), and New York (101).

Regardless of the outcome in his third-round match, Djokovic's record of 91 wins and eight defeats in Melbourne reflects the highest match-winning percentage in the Open era for the tournament.

Such accomplishments place Djokovic in an exclusive category. He is one of only three players, alongside the retired Roger Federer (117) and Serena Williams (105), to have participated in over 100 matches at the first major of the year.

In the broader context of the Open era, just four men – Djokovic, Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Jimmy Connors – have achieved the 100-match milestone at any of the four majors. Federer, with 119 matches on Wimbledon's grass, stands as the leader in this elite group.