"I don't mind playing in the day": Novak Djokovic states after first scheduling shift in 1073 days at Australian Open gleams Mannarino win

Sunday, 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.

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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).

Novak Djokovic

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11:25 AM · Jan 21, 2024

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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.

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