Novak Djokovic has conquered many records at the Australian Open, which it has be said has been decided by his own talent and racket.
The Serb has won a mindboggling 10 Australian Opens, which is the most of any man, and there could be as many as five more records that he will achieve should he bag an 11th title within the next seven days. Djokovic is unbeaten at the year's first Grand Slam since 2018.
But while that streak remains intact for now, he is set to lose another one when he faces wily French lefty Adrian Mannarino in the fourth round on Sunday. It isn't all his doing because the tournament organizers have scheduled Djokovic's match during the day session (second on Rod Laver Arena).
It has been 1,073 days since Djokovic last played a match during the day session at the Australian Open. That happened in 2021 when he played Frances Tiafoe in the second round. The World No. 1 prevailed in four entertaining sets.
Since then, Djokovic has been allocated a night match in 15 consecutive ties. That run includes two titles, winning in 2021 and 2023, respectively. All three of Djokovic's matches in the opening week of the 2024 edition have been during the night session.
The 36-year-old has been required to bring his best tennis to overcome some stern resistance. He needed four hours to defeat Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic in the first round, which was the longest opener he's played at Grand Slam level.
Djokovic dropped sets to the youngster and Alexei Popyrin in the second round. But there was a semblance of normality in the third round where he cruised past Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets to reach the second week for the umpteenth time.
The last time Djokovic lost a match at the Australian Open was in the fourth round six years ago. But it would take an out-of-the-ordinary performance and a mother of all upsets for history to repeat itself on Sunday afternoon.
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