The most 'vintage' Djokovic reaches 100, overwhelms Martinez, and sharpens his weapons

Andrés Tomás Rico | 19 Jan 2026 | 13.40

The most ‘vintage’ Djokovic overwhelms Martínez and sharpens his weapons. Photo: Gettyimages

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Novak Djokovic is very serious about this Open de Australia 2026. The Serbian conducted a flawless debut much to the dismay of Pedro Martínez, who suffered the wrath of the 24-time Grand Slam champion aiming for his 25th title on his favorite court. So far, he is off to the best start possible, dominating the Spaniard clearly and decisively with a 6-3, 6-2-6-2 victory, marking his 100th win in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic was eager to return to competition. Ten weeks after his title in the ATP Athens, the Serbian landed in Australia, a place he has conquered ten times. However, this time, he did not come as the top favorite, a privilege that has been taken away from him for a year by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Before his debut, the Belgrade native had mentioned that he lacked physicality in the Grand Slams where he lost to the Spanish and Italian players, namely, in Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. His goal in the early rounds is to gain momentum and avoid straining his body too much.

Novak Djokovic displayed his most dominant form to defeat Pedro Martínez in the first round of the 2026 Australian Open

True to his word, at his debut on Rod Laver Arena, the same place where a year ago he left injured amidst boos, this time he was welcomed back as the great champion he is. Pedro Martínez felt the full force of Djokovic, facing the Balkan player in optimal condition: precise serving, deep backhand shots, and aggressive forehands.

Djokovic couldn't have asked for a better start, and Martinez couldn't do much. The Serbian caught him off guard, quickly breaking his serve and taking a 3-0 lead. Martinez tried to resist and retrieve as many balls as possible, but he was up against the player who has won the most matches on that court.

Trying to stop the bleeding by approaching the net and improving his first serve, Martinez's response came too late, and the first set slipped away (6-3) into Djokovic's firm grip, physically intact and quick on his feet, the Djokovic we all know.

The beginning of the second set mirrored the first. Belgrade's finest was on fire, returning everything, and against this omnipresent version of the 24-time Grand Slam champion, Martinez and mere mortals alike were helpless. Djokovic broke the Spaniard's serve and once again took control.

Only dropped five points on his serve

It seemed Djokovic had entered a time machine, displaying the tennis prowess of years past when no one could challenge him. His physicality was back, reaching every ball, delivering powerful shots. Clearly, his preseason preparations were spot on as the Serbian looked fresh and decisive, unlike in a long time.

The second set naturally fell into Djokovic's hands (6-2), as he continued his tennis lesson at 38 years old. Djokovic's dominance was such that Martinez could only win one point when returning serve in the entire second set, enduring 30 winners from an untouchable Djokovic.

The veteran player appeared to be reveling like a young child, even performing tricks as he saw the match firmly under his control. Martinez, far from giving up, continued to fight and search for a gap in an increasingly impenetrable wall.

However, his chances were slim, and Djokovic decided to widen the gap, concluding his display by breaking Martinez's serve and virtually crushing the match (6-3, 6-2, 6-2). Novak Djokovic's preparations for this Australian Open were more than perfect, conceding only five points on his serve and sending a clear message: if he stays fit and maintains his level, he will be a force to be reckoned with.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Djokovic más "vintage" se pone a 100, arrolla a Martínez y afila sus armas