Novak Djokovic secured his place in the third round of the Australian Open with a commanding victory over Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. The men’s fourth seed, aiming for his 11th title at Melbourne Park and his 25th Grand Slam trophy overall, demonstrated his experience and skill without needing to reach top gear.
Djokovic acknowledged that he was unfamiliar with Maestrelli before their encounter, yet he maintained his respect for the younger player. “He’s got a big serve and a big game,” Djokovic noted, highlighting Maestrelli’s potential despite his lack of experience. The match marked Djokovic’s 399th Grand Slam win, bringing him closer to Roger Federer’s record of 102 victories at the event. He is scheduled to face Botic van de Zandschulp next.
In another match, fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti triumphed in an all-Italian showdown, defeating Lorenzo Sonego with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Musetti expressed that it was a challenging match due to their friendship, as they recently shared a title in doubles. He will next take on either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Tomas Machac.
Eighth seed Ben Shelton also advanced smoothly, overpowering Dane Sweeny from Australia with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Shelton’s performance sets up a third-round clash with Valentin Vacherot, who overcame Rinky Hijikata in straight sets.
Among the women, defending champion Madison Keys continued her journey by defeating Ashlyn Krueger with a score of 6-1, 7-5. Although she showcased a strong start, the ninth seed faced some difficulties in the second set, struggling with double faults and allowing Krueger to break her serve twice. Keys managed to reclaim her momentum to secure the win and will next compete against Karolina Pliskova.
Sixth seed Jessica Pegula delivered a dominant performance against her doubles partner McCartney Kessler, winning 6-0, 6-2 in just 58 minutes. Pegula will face Oksana Selekhmeteva in the third round. Amanda Anisimova also progressed with a steady 6-1, 6-4 victory over Katerina Siniakova, setting up a match with compatriot Peyton Stearns.
As the tournament continues, fans are eager to witness more thrilling matches. Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner is set to play against Australian wildcard James Duckworth, while women’s second seed Iga Swiatek will face Marie Bouzkova. Additionally, two-time champion Naomi Osaka is slated to compete against Sorana Cirstea.