What's happened
Novak Djokovic won his 102nd Australian Open match, tying Federer’s record, and became the first to reach 400 wins at Grand Slams. He also apologized after narrowly missing a ball girl with a shot. Wawrinka played his last match, and Alcaraz advanced despite a tough second round.
What's behind the headline?
Djokovic's achievement of 400 Grand Slam wins cements his status as one of tennis's greatest. His ability to perform at a high level at age 38 demonstrates exceptional longevity, driven by meticulous self-improvement and mental resilience. The incident where he narrowly missed a ball girl highlights the intense pressure players face, and his apology reflects sportsmanship. Wawrinka's farewell marks the end of an era for a player who defied age expectations, while Alcaraz's second-round challenge underscores his potential to dominate in future years. The tournament's mix of record-breaking performances, emotional farewells, and emerging stars signals a transitional phase in men's tennis, with Djokovic's legacy firmly established but new contenders rising.
What the papers say
Sky News reports Djokovic's historic milestone and incident at Melbourne Park, highlighting his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam. The NY Post covers Wawrinka's emotional farewell and his underdog performance, emphasizing his longevity and impact. The Independent provides context on Djokovic's career achievements and Alcaraz's ongoing quest for a career Grand Slam, illustrating the evolving landscape of tennis. Contrasting perspectives show Djokovic's dominance as a historic achievement, while Wawrinka's farewell adds a human, emotional dimension to the tournament. Both stories underscore the sport's blend of record-breaking excellence and personal stories, with Djokovic's pursuit of history and Wawrinka's final chapter capturing the sport's enduring drama.
How we got here
Djokovic's career has been marked by numerous Grand Slam records, including 10 Australian Open titles. The 2026 tournament sees him aiming for his 25th major, seeking to surpass all-time records. Wawrinka, a former champion, is retiring after a long career, while Alcaraz continues to chase his first Australian Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 1 in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals.
-
Stanislas "Stan" Wawrinka (French: [stanislas vavʁiŋka]; born 28 March 1985) is a Swiss professional tennis player. He has been ranked as high as world No. 3 in singles by the ATP. Wawrinka has won 16 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including three major
-
Carlos Alcaraz Garfia is a Spanish professional tennis player. Alcaraz has a career high ATP singles ranking of World No. 75 achieved on 21 June 2021.
-
Jannik Sinner is an Italian tennis player. Sinner has a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 68, achieved in February 2020. His career-high doubles ranking is No. 380, achieved in March 2020. He is the first male player born in 2001 to reach a Gra
-
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who is ranked world No. 4 in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals.
-
Taylor Harry Fritz is an American professional tennis player. He reached an ATP final in his third career event, the 2016 Memphis Open. Only one other American has reached an ATP final in fewer career events.
-
Yannick Hanfmann is a German professional tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 92, first achieved in May 2021. He is known for his powerful serves and groundstrokes.
He is hearing-impaired, having been so since birth.
Hanfm
-
Corentin Moutet is a French tennis player.
Moutet has a career high ATP singles ranking of world no. 69, attained on 14 September 2020. He also has a career high ATP doubles ranking of world no. 425, attained on 12 June 2017.
-
The Australian Open is a tennis tournament held annually over the last fortnight of January in Melbourne, Australia. The tournament is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events held each year excepting 1986, preceding the French Open, Wimbledon, and
-
Craig Tiley is a South African tennis executive and retired U.S college tennis coach. Tiley is the current CEO of Tennis Australia which is the governing body that oversees tennis in Australia. He is also the Director of the Australian Open.
-
Botic van de Zandschulp is a Dutch professional tennis player. Van de Zandschulp has a career high ATP singles ranking of world No. 117 achieved on 30 August 2021. He also has a career high doubles ranking of world No. 232 achieved on 23 October 2017. Van