Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over qualifier Francesco Maestrelli, marking his 399th career Grand Slam match victory. The 38-year-old Serbian, seeking a record 11th title in Melbourne, dominated 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 without needing top gear. He now stands one win away from becoming the first player to reach 400 Grand Slam victories.
Novak Djokovic's path through the 2026 Australian Open continued smoothly on Thursday as he dismantled Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena. The fourth seed, who has won 10 Australian Open titles, has now dropped just 14 games across his two matches, showcasing his enduring dominance at age 38. This victory represents his 399th win in Grand Slam singles, leaving him on the cusp of a historic milestone as the first player to reach 400.
Djokovic broke Maestrelli, ranked No. 141 and making his Grand Slam debut, early in the first set and again to open the second, maintaining control throughout. A brief lapse saw him drop serve midway through the third set—his first of the tournament—but he immediately broke back at love and closed out the match strongly. "I didn't know much about him until a few days ago, it happens more often than not these days," Djokovic said. "But the respect is always there and I didn't underestimate him. He's got a big serve and a big game, only lacking a bit of experience. He's got the game to go far and high in the world rankings and I wish him that."
The Serb has never lost a major match to a player ranked as low as Maestrelli and raced to his 101st win in Melbourne, one shy of Roger Federer's record of 102. Djokovic, tied with Margaret Court on 24 major titles, is chasing a 25th Grand Slam trophy and an 11th Australian Open crown, which would make him the oldest man in the Open era to win a major at 38.
Up next for Djokovic is Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in the third round. The Australian Open, held in Melbourne, drew record crowds on the day, with 103,720 spectators.
