Stat of the Day: Novak Djokovic extends winning streak in Australia to 30 matches in a row

Novak Djokovic has done a lot of winning all over the world, but he’s particularly lethal in Australia—and on Tuesday he extended his winning streak in the country to 30 matches in a row with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over France's Constant Lestienne in his opener in Adelaide.

After holding at love in his first two service games, Djokovic looked to be in a little bit of trouble in his next service game, facing a break point at 2-all. But he fought it off and ended up winning 10 of the next 13 games en route to the one-hour, 14-minute victory.

“First of all I have to say I’m glad to be back in Australia. Thank you all for coming out today. Thank you for giving me the welcome that I could only wish for,” he told the crowd in his on-court interview.

“For the first match, I can’t complain. I thought I played very well. I thought the first, probably, six games were pretty competitive, and I had never faced him before today’s match. He’s a counterpuncher, he doesn’t make too many mistakes, and he kind of absorbs the pace from his opponent. He also has a kind of tricky serve.

“But once I made that break at 3-2 first set I stepped it up one or two levels and played pretty good tennis the rest of the match.”

Djokovic hasn’t lost a match in Australia since falling to South Korea’s Chung Hyeon in the fourth round of the 2018 Australian Open on January 22nd, 2018—now almost five years ago.

Not only has he now won his last 30 matches in a row in Australia, he’s also won 48 of his last 50, and 73 of his last 76.

DJOKOVIC IN AUSTRALIA SINCE START OF 2011: 73-3
~ 7-0 at 2011 Australian Open
~ 7-0 at 2012 Australian Open
~ 7-0 at 2013 Australian Open
~ 4-1 at 2014 Australian Open [l. to Wawrinka in QFs]
~ 7-0 at 2015 Australian Open
~ 7-0 at 2016 Australian Open
~ 1-1 at 2017 Australian Open [l. to Istomin in 2nd Rd]
~ 3-1 at 2018 Australian Open [l. to Chung in 4th Rd]
~ 7-0 at 2019 Australian Open
~ 6-0 at 2020 ATP Cup
~ 7-0 at 2020 Australian Open
~ 2-0 at 2021 ATP Cup
~ 7-0 at 2021 Australian Open
~ 1-0 so far at 2023 Adelaide

Djokovic was asked about his lifelong success in Australia.

“If I had to pick one country where I’ve had the most success, which treated me the best way in terms of tennis, it’s here, definitely,” he said. “I won my first Slam here in 2008, nine Australian Opens, I’ve had some epic matches—if I had to pick one, it would probably have to be the finals against Nadal in 2012, almost six hours.

“Over the years, Australia has been the place where I’ve played my best tennis, and I always look forward to coming here. Even the circumstances last year were as they were, it wasn’t easy for anybody—but I’m just happy to be here and focused on tennis, and enjoying my time with you guys.”