Something peculiar happened to Novak Djokovic on Sunday.
Someone broke one of his many tennis records.
When his friend Aryna Sabalenka won her 20th straight Grand Slam tiebreak in the Open era, the women’s No.1 moved one ahead of the Serb.
“I’m upset right now,” Djokovic wrote on X.
He was joking, no doubt.
But Djokovic continues to make history and break records himself at Australian Open 2026.
In the last week alone, he collected win No.100 at the Australian Open, became the first player to reach 400 wins at Grand Slams and overtook Roger Federer for the most men’s quarterfinals in tournament history.
The last of those achievements came without striking a ball, as Jakub Mensik — the 20-year-old who was not even born when Djokovic contested his first Australian Open in 2005 — pulled out of their much-anticipated fourth-round clash a day early due to an abdominal injury.
The good fortune for Djokovic might be hugely significant as he chases the record he most wants at AO 2026 — an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam crown.
A healthy Mensik is not easy to contend with, as Djokovic knows.
Yes, Djokovic played with an eye infection when he lost to Mensik in the Miami Open final on hard courts last year, but the Czech can take the racquet out of his opponents’ hands thanks to his bulldozing serve. He has averaged 16 aces per match this season.
Mensik, too, won the Auckland title leading into AO 2026.
A walkover in the middle of a Grand Slam sometimes negatively impacts a player’s rhythm but at 38, it figures to help Djokovic — especially after he said this on Saturday: “The deeper in the tournament, obviously the more energy I spend, and I don't know how my body is going to react.”
He spoke in the wake of a straight-set win against giant slayer Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
Ahead of his quarterfinal on Wednesday against either Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti, Djokovic has spent seven hours on court with no sets lost.
It is a marked improvement from the previous two seasons.
In 2024, Djokovic lost two sets and clocked seven hours in his first two matches alone.
Similarly, last year, he dropped two sets and spent six hours on court in the first two rounds.
Both times, Djokovic eventually exited in the semifinals, retiring in 2025 against Alexander Zverev after a comeback victory against Carlos Alcaraz.
If the seedings hold, Djokovic would face two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner — who ended his 33-match Australian Open winning streak two years ago — in the last four.
“I think that on a given day when I'm feeling good physically and mentally, when I'm playing well, I can challenge anybody, and I still believe I can beat all of them,” the 10-time AO champion said. “If that's not the case, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be here, for sure.
“Last year, three out of four Slams, it wasn't great. I didn't feel great playing them, (Sinner) and Alcaraz in the later stages, but hopefully that can change.
“I think there is probably (the) best chance here, because it's the beginning of the season, and my body is still fresher than what it would be maybe other parts of the season.”
To stay fresh, Djokovic is tweaking his training regimen in Melbourne.
He opted not to practise on one of his two free days between the first and second round, and skipped practice between the second and third round.
“I'm obviously trying to be strategic, talking with my team to what's more important,” he said.
“I'm hitting the ball well. I trained hard for the last couple months, and everything is going OK on the court.
“So, it's more important to save energy, right, not stress my body out unnecessarily on the training or whatever it is. Every single day when I wake up, we have to evaluate what's the right thing to do on that day.”
If his body does not betray him, past history suggests Djokovic should advance to the semifinals.
He holds a combined 20-1 record against Fritz and Musetti, although the latter extended Djokovic to three hours in a gripping final in Athens — where Djokovic now resides — in November.
Djokovic, citing a shoulder injury, withdrew from the ATP finals immediately afterwards and Musetti took his spot.
Djokovic seeks a 103rd Australian Open win, which will, you guessed it, necessitate an adjustment in the record books as he will overtake Federer for top spot.
I'm happy to be where I am and hoping for the best moving forward,” he said.
To stay fresh, Djokovic is tweaking his training regimen in Melbourne.
He opted not to practise on one of his two free days between the first and second round, and skipped practice between the second and third round.
“I'm obviously trying to be strategic, talking with my team to what's more important,” he said.
“I'm hitting the ball well. I trained hard for the last couple months, and everything is going OK on the court.
“So, it's more important to save energy, right, not stress my body out unnecessarily on the training or whatever it is. Every single day when I wake up, we have to evaluate what's the right thing to do on that day.”
If his body does not betray him, past history suggests Djokovic should advance to the semifinals.
He holds a combined 20-1 record against Fritz and Musetti, although the latter extended Djokovic to three hours in a gripping final in Athens — where Djokovic now resides — in November.
Djokovic, citing a shoulder injury, withdrew from the ATP finals immediately afterwards and Musetti took his spot.
Djokovic seeks a 103rd Australian Open win, which will, you guessed it, necessitate an adjustment in the record books as he will overtake Federer for top spot.
I'm happy to be where I am and hoping for the best moving forward,” he said.