00:00Not sure if he's going to raise his bat as they like to do in this part of the world when they get to a hundred
00:07But that's what he's just about to do
00:10Match point for his hundredth win here at the Australian Open
00:13Thank you
00:16Please
00:24Game
00:276-3
00:29A century of wins
00:32For the ten-time champion in Australia
00:35He held all the cards and it was fitting that it was another ace to add to the collection that sealed his first win of this year's campaign
00:51He is a master of his craft
00:5814 aces on the night
01:00Just a handful of points lost on his own serve
01:07It's a pretty perfect pretty perfect start to the fortnight for Novak
01:15And it's a hundred not out he has bigger aspirations first player to have managed that at three separate slams now Novak
01:30And given the fact that he decided not to play in Adelaide didn't feel as though he was quite ready to go and compete there
01:37He has done in the past of course picked up that title
01:43Wanted to come in here fresh and ready to go and his preparation looks as though it has been absolutely spot-on
01:51Martinez jumped down to the challengers to get some confidence after a very very difficult
01:55Two-thirds of his campaign in 2025
01:57And it was the right move he picked up a trophy he will not be heading home with another one
02:04But he will be heading off this court with a wealth of information
02:08Some of the biggest stars from the past this one still very much
02:23A clear and present danger to the current champion here yannick sinner
02:27And of course the pretender to the australian throne carlos alcaraz and many many others
02:34As we make our way through this 15-day competition
02:46Well i'm sure somebody that is as a perfectionist as Novak is he'll find some sort of small flaw and what happened tonight but
02:54There didn't seem to be too much wrong with anything he did his movement looks spot-on
03:11Novak is going to chat about the win with Wally
03:14Well Novak welcome back your 21st appearance at the australian open and your first official match of 2026
03:30You must be pretty pleased with your ball striking you can't take anybody lightly inside the top 100
03:35It's great to be back
03:43Once again, and definitely my favorite court, you know court that has given me so much
03:48I try to give it back as as much as I could in the last 20 plus years and hopefully you guys enjoy the tennis tonight. Thank you for coming
03:55I'm
04:00Novak i'm sure you're well aware of it, but I just want to inform the crowd this is Novak's 100th win at the australian open
04:09It matches his achievements at Wimbledon
04:19I've got paper here Novak because it's like your curriculum vitae in tennis is so enormous. I need a paper
04:24He's at 102 wins at Wimbledon
04:26101 wins at Roland Garros
04:29You are a record breaker at breaking records. That is an extraordinary achievement
04:33Thank you
04:36Thank you. Thank you
04:41I mean, what can I say? I like the sound of it, you know centurion is uh, it's pretty nice nice feeling to be a centurion also in these numbers and
04:50Look, I you know, I always give my best whenever I'm on the court. Obviously
04:55History making is is a great motivation and particularly in the last I don't know five ten years of my career
05:02uh
05:03Once I got myself in a position that I could
05:06You know eventually create history. Obviously. I was even more inspired to play the best tennis and that's what I've done and
05:13You know, I was very fortunate early on in my career to encounter some people that
05:19taught me
05:20And guided me to play the the long shot so to say with my career, you know, not to
05:26Not to burn out too quickly, you know
05:28Um, take care of my body of my mind and try to have as long as a career as possible
05:33So I'm blessed to be still playing honestly at this level
05:37Making another win tonight here is is obviously a dream come true. So thank you all for witnessing
05:41So no that guy I'm hoping we're going to get some vision just a little timeline of your efforts here at melbourne park
05:56So if we can roll some vision this is no back back in 2005
06:01You've gotten through qualifying and you're taking on marat safin who goes on to win you got some recollections of that moment
06:08Absolutely, I have recollections of that moment also this moment that was the first trophy in 2008 but 2005
06:15I colored my hair for the first and only time in my life just before the match
06:20With marat and of course the first call I receive after the match, uh, which was a blowout for obviously for marat
06:26But you know for me the first time main draw experience the first call I received was my mother
06:30She asked me what what the hell are you thinking about, you know calling your hair
06:34So it was a unique experience obviously now rolling back the years obviously the the longest and best finals I was ever part of with the greatest rival
06:42nadal obviously
06:44It feels good commenting, you know, I mean
06:47Novak you said you've taken care of your mind and your body you've certainly taken care of your body. That's pretty impressive. Yeah
06:56What's that like one percent body fat
06:58I
07:00I wish I could bring bring back that body to be honest, you know
07:05Don't we all not for the beach not for the looks but for the the functionality on the court. I think it served me well
07:11I mean, I'm happy with my body so far
07:14Although you know things are different 15 years later, but nevertheless can I keep on speaking? Sorry
07:20I'm speaking about my body so I get excited. You know what I mean
07:26I'm getting excited. No, no, no, no
07:30Oh, actually, I mean, thank you, but no
07:34And uh speaking of which
07:38Did I say I like my body?
07:42But um
07:43Novak
07:45You know tennis has given you so much
07:47But you've put everything that you've got to become the best player that you can possibly be
07:51It's such an achievement. Is there any time for reflection? Do you ever sit down and think how did I get here?
07:56How did I manage all of this?
07:59Yes, and no
08:01Yes, it does come
08:04more often to my mind I think in the last couple of years
08:07as the end is is nearer than the beginning obviously and
08:12You know lots of thoughts running through my mind, but
08:14No, because I don't allow myself to really
08:18Hang
08:18You know hang out with those thoughts for too long because
08:23I just feel you know as long as I'm playing at a high level. I don't have time
08:27You know the life of a tennis player is a constant journey. You know you have every single week. There's a new competition
08:32Obviously, I'm not playing as much as I used to but
08:36You know once the season starts your your mind is racing and you know, there's always the next challenge
08:41You know you're done with this week. You know, what's the next week next tournament next competition?
08:45How do I get ready for it? So you really don't allow yourself to really reflect too much and
08:51Yeah, hopefully when I put my racket aside, you know sipping
08:56Some nice cocktail on the beach and then I'll then I'll reflect on everything
08:59Well given what you given what you achieved last year four semifinals in the majors and it took the very best players in the world to beat you
09:05You're a little unlucky here with injury, but you know, you obviously pushed sinner at the french open
09:10You were there or there abouts in all of the slams and obviously that's what's important to you
09:14How are you feeling coming into this australian open?
09:18It always feels good at the beginning of the tournament, you know, let's see how let's see how I progress
09:23I mean tonight's performance was was definitely great. You know, I cannot complain about anything. I
09:29served very well and
09:32Obviously, it's always a challenge to kickstart the
09:36You know the competition and the tournament in a in a in a right way with a right note and
09:40Sending sending the right signal not just yourself, but to all the opponents, you know watching you play. So
09:47You know now I have a couple of days a couple of days without a match recover my body
09:52I'm using every hour that I can to get my body recovered and in shape for for the next challenge
09:58So, you know, let's let's hope for the best
10:00We'll make congratulations on tonight and we look forward to you progressing through the event. Thank you
10:30You
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