Novak Djokovic beat Fernando Verdasco in the first round in Melbourne on Tuesday night in less time than it took Ivo Karlovic and Horacio Zeballos to complete a single set.

Karlovic and Zeballos played the longest match, as measured by games played, in Australian Open history. Their fifth set went to 42 games before finally Karlovic prevailed. As incredible as the length of the match was the fact that Karlovic thundered down a record 75 aces. 75!

When Djokovic walked onto Rod Laver arena to play Verdasco, out on court 19 Karlovic and Zeballos were just kicking off their fifth set.

Djokovic then beat Verdasco, had toweled down, changed shirt, done an on-court interview, gone inside, spoken to his coach and sundry officials, perhaps even took in a meal and still the Croatian veteran and his dogged Argentinian opponent toiled.