Melbourne, Jan 19 (NationPress) Novak Djokovic, the most accomplished player in Grand Slam history, made a remarkable comeback to his favorite event at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday, achieving a significant milestone with his 100th victory at this prestigious hard-court tournament. The former No. 1 ATP player showcased an almost flawless performance, defeating Pedro Martinez with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, marking his 100th career win at Melbourne Park.

Having already claimed the title ten times, Djokovic is now poised to surpass Roger Federer’s all-time record of 102 match wins at this tournament.

In the night session at Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic exhibited his classic form, delivering an impressive array of shots, totaling 17 winners and just six unforced errors in what is anticipated to be a campaign aiming for his 25th Grand Slam title. Next, he will face Francesco Maestrelli in the second round.

"Tonight's performance was truly exceptional. I have no complaints," Djokovic remarked after his milestone match.

"The sound of being a centurion is delightful... I strive to give my utmost on the court. Making history has been a strong motivation for me, especially in the latter part of my career. Once I found myself in a position to create history, my drive to play my best tennis intensified, and that's precisely what I've accomplished," he added.

Earlier in the day, Australia’s top hope, Alex de Minaur, energized by a supportive crowd at Rod Laver Arena, secured a convincing 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory over American Mackenzie McDonald. De Minaur, currently ranked No. 6 in the world, faces immense pressure as he has never progressed past the quarterfinals of a major tournament, with it being 50 years since an Australian man won the singles title at home.

"I need to take that next step and trust in my abilities, and that’s what will ultimately help me achieve that next level," de Minaur stated.

Other players advancing include Daniil Medvedev, a three-time finalist, and Andrey Rublev. However, seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime faced an early exit after retiring against Nuno Borges due to cramping.

In the women’s draw, Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue put up a tough fight against Swiatek, who managed to secure a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory in two hours. As the second seed, Swiatek is on a quest for the elusive Australian Open title to complete her collection of major trophies.

Although Swiatek encountered challenges against the aggressive play of the 130th-ranked Yuan, who required medical assistance in the third set due to a back issue, she remarked, "I felt a bit rusty initially, and she capitalized on that," noting her 35 unforced errors. "There were many ups and downs, and I have areas to improve upon."

Third seed Coco Gauff dominated against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova with a score of 6-2, 6-3, setting up a match with Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, who triumphed over Venus Williams in a three-set battle.

Despite an inconsistent performance, Gauff's renowned speed was evident as she aims for her third Grand Slam title. "Right now, my goal is to win the tournament. Losing in the first round or the final wouldn’t satisfy me," Gauff expressed.

American fourth seed Amanda Anisimova made a statement with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Simona Waltert of Switzerland. "Last year was fantastic, and I'm working to carry that confidence and those great moments into this year," Anisimova stated, having reached the finals of the last two Grand Slams.

Meanwhile, Shang Juncheng ensured a Chinese presence in the second round of the Australian Open, alongside Djokovic and Swiatek, who began their title defenses with differing victories on Monday.

On a busy second day at warm Melbourne Park, Shang stood out by overpowering former top-10 player Roberto Bautista-Agut with a score of 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-0 in a match lasting almost three hours. The 20-year-old unleashed 63 winners and will next face Botic van de Zandschulp, who upset 27th seed Brandon Nakashima in four sets.

However, fellow countryman Bu Yunchaokete, China’s top-ranked men’s player, struggled with a wrist injury in his match against Denis Shapovalov, losing 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-1. The match took a pivotal turn when the world No. 120 fell during the second set tiebreak, but he fought valiantly, unable to contain Shapovalov's powerful serve. Shapovalov, a former world No. 10, will face Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, in the second round.

Looking ahead, men’s second seed Jannik Sinner will begin his pursuit of a third consecutive Australian Open title on Tuesday, while four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is also set to compete. Chinese players Wu Yibing, Wang Xinyu, and Zhang Shuai will participate in their first-round matches on day three.