Novak Djokovic has soared into the Australian Open third round after knocking out Francesco Maestrelli.
Djokovic won his 100th Australian Open match in the first round against Pedro Martinez, who he beat 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
And the Serbian has just beaten Maestrelli by the exact same scoreline to earn a third round tie with Botic van de Zandschulp.
Djokovic is the fourth seed at the Australian Open, a tournament the ATP veteran has won 10 times in his stunning career.
How far do you think Novak Djokovic will go at the Australian Open?
Novak Djokovic’s off-season work key to Australian Open run
Djokovic shared insight into his longevity after the win, with the 38-year-old having been asked about his increasingly aggressive approach and his potent serve.
He explained: “Yeah, I mean, I always try to work with purpose. I had a longer off-season, like the off-season before this one.
“When I have more time, then I obviously try to look at my game and different elements that I can really improve. Otherwise, what’s the point?
“What’s the point of competing and coming out and not really trying to be better than you were the season before? That’s the kind of mentality I try to nurture. It’s been allowing me to play at the highest level at this age.
“I’m glad that it’s paying off, the work I’ve done in the off-season. It’s the beginning of the tournament. Obviously I haven’t played any lead-up tournament.
“I’m really happy I’m able to play this way, considering the lack of competitive matches for more than two months. It’s all been positive so far, positive signs. But I’ve got to keep it up obviously.”
The Australian Open is the best Grand Slam… discuss!
Novak Djokovic is the perfect role model for younger players
It truly is remarkable how Djokovic has not only managed to stay relevant at this stage of his career, but also continue to achieve success.
He’s flying high at the Australian Open despite not playing since early November, when he lifted the trophy in Greece.
Djokovic withdrew from the ATP Finals after his triumph in Athens, and made the same decision for Adelaide at the start of 2026.
Djokovic really is the perfect role model for younger players on the ATP Tour, who can learn so much from the legendary figure both on and off the court.
At the same time, however, the Serbian is also sending a warning to those very players, showing that he isn’t finished just yet.
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