"I don't mind playing in the day": Novak Djokovic states after first scheduling shift in 1073 days at Australian Open gleams Mannarino win
ATPSunday, 21 January 2024 at 23:30
Novak
Djokovic played in the day session of the Australian Open for the first time in
3 years and secured an imposing victory over the world No. 20 Adrian Mannarino
with a scoreline of 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 in just one hour and 44 minutes. The 24-times
Grand Slam champion emphasized that he doesn't mind playing in the day or at
night.
The last
time Djokovic participated in a day session at the Australian Open was in the
second round of the 2021 tournament against Frances Tiafoe, the year he
clinched his 9th AO title. Since then, he had accumulated 15 consecutive night
matches in Melbourne until the match against Adrian Mannarino, which opened the
day of competition on January 21 in Melbourne.
The world
No. 1 had his best performance in the current Aussie Open after two hard-fought
initial rounds. When asked about his feelings after being scheduled in the day
for the first time in three years during the on-court interview, Djokovic
replied, "The way I played today, I don't mind playing in the day, to be
honest," adding his gratitude to the fans for showing up.
"Thank
you. Thank you guys for showing up also. I know it's maybe early in the day but
it's Sunday, not a working day. So thank you everyone for showing up. It's
great to see you back in the arena. It's beautiful to see that. Yeah. It's no
secret, I love to play at 7 pm but it wasn't bad at all today. Not too bad,
today," he added.
Records keep mounting for Djokovic
Novak
Djokovic's impressive victory continues to add to the Serbian's already
illustrious record. He has now reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for
the 58th time (in just 73 participations), equaling Roger Federer as the player
with the most appearances in this stage. Notably, Federer required 81
participations to achieve the same feat.
On another
note, Djokovic reached the milestone of winning 48 sets by a score of 6-0 in a
Grand Slam with his two initial sets. He is now just two sets away from Andre
Agassi's historic record of 48, surpassing notable names like Roy Emerson (47),
Roger Federer (46), Jimmy Connors (44), Rafael Nadal (44), and Ivan Lendl (42).
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- Is there no one in Pro Tennis willing to give this one some form of intervention before she crashes??
mandoist04-09-2026 - Double Standards for the male players? Gross. BTW: This "apology" reads like the one his lawyers wrote for him when he had to go to the Kangaroo Court for slapping his girlfriend around.mandoist04-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not just the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- In her defense... she has no "defense" and likely could not articulate it if she did.mandoist03-09-2026
- Someone is not enjoying her gradual slide down the rankings, which became noticeable last season. BTW: That reporter's on to something familiar -- the effects of Social Media Stardom on one's Second Priority (Tennis). Shades of Bouchard, Giorgi, Raducanu, etc.mandoist03-09-2026
- Sabalenka seems so unhappy. When you get angry after every mistake you make on court, you’ve got some issues sweetie! She also does seem to be “partying” a lot if you follow her social media (I don’t lolol). Very immature personality.DaveyWavey03-09-2026
- The main difference for bigger names like Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverez, etc. is that they usually make it to the later stages of tournaments while 99% of the other players win a round or two and then move on to the next tournament. The bigger names are playing more, playing longer and therefore more injury issues. The money is great but it all comes with a price!DaveyWavey03-09-2026
Loading
