Novak Djokovic vs Francesco Maestrelli prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head, preview: Australian Open 2026
Novak Djokovic will meet Francesco Maestrelli for the first time at Australian Open 2026 second round.
After a flawless start to his Australian Open 2026 campaign, Novak Djokovic is set to face Italy’s Francesco Maestrelli in the second round on Thursday, January 22. Check Novak Djokovic vs Francesco Maestrelli match prediction below.
It was the vintage Djokovic on display on Rod Laver Arena as he scripted a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Spaniard Pedro Martinez, and never faced a breakpoint during the two-hour match.
Djokovic also recorded a historic milestone, reaching his 100th win at the Australian Open. The Serbian star dropped just five points on serve, struck 49 winners and 14 aces to defeat Martinez.
The World No. 4 is 100-10 at the tournament, and the only man with 100 or more main draw wins at three different majors. Djokovic will take on Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in his 19th second-round appearance at the venue.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion will face Mastrelli for the first time in career. The Italian downed Terence Atmane 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-1 to win his first main draw match in Melbourne. He overpowered Atmane in three hours and 23 minutes, aided by 60 winners and 28 aces.
“What can I say? I like the sound of it… Centurion is pretty nice,” Djokovic said after notching up his latest milestone.
“It’s nice to be a centurion in these numbers. History-making is a great motivation, particularly in the last five, ten years of my career. Once I got myself in a position to create history, I was even more inspired to play the best tennis, and that is what I have done,” he added.
Also Read: Novak Djokovic joins Roger Federer in elite list with opening round win at Australian Open 2026
Match details
- Tournament: Australian Open 2026
- Round: Second Round
- Date: January 21
- Venue: Melbourne, Australia
- Surface: Hard
Preview
Ahead of his second-round clash, Djokovic is two wins away from equalling Roger Federer. The Swiss great has 102 match wins to his name in Melbourne Park. The Serb made room for himself in the history books as the 1st player to achieve it across three different Grand Slams (101 – Roland Garros, 102 – Wimbledon)
At the press conference that followed his first-round win, Djokovic joked about Carlos Alcaraz copying his serve. He added that they have to speak about copyright and royalties.
For Mastrelli, it was his first Grand Slam main draw win. His reward will be a face-off with Djokovic in a true David vs Goliath battle. The Italian qualifier upset World No. 64 Atmane in a five-setter to set up the biggest match of his career.
Form
- Novak Djokovic: W-W-W-W-W
- Francesco Maestrelli: W-W-W-W-W
Head-to-head record
- Matches: 0
- Novak Djokovic: 0
- Francesco Maestrelli: 0
Stats
Novak Djokovic:
- Djokovic has a 1-0 win-loss record in the 2026 season.
- Djokovic has a 100-10 win-loss record at the Australian Open.
- Djokovic has won 84% of matches played on hard courts.
Francesco Maestrelli:
- Maestrelli has a 1-0 win-loss record in the 2026 season.
- Maestrelli is making his main draw debut at the Australian Open.
- Maestrelli has won 50% of matches played on hard courts.
Novak Djokovic vs Francesco Maestrelli: Betting tips and odds
- Moneyline: Djokovic: -5000, Maestrelli +1900.
- Spread: Djokovic -9.5 (+105), Maestrelli +9.5 (-123).
- Total Sets: Over 28.5 (-115), Under 28.5 (-106).
- First Set Winner: Djokovic -1180, Maestrelli +624.
Novak Djokovic vs Francesco Maestrelli: Match Prediction
Facing ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will be no easy task for debutant Francesco Maestrelli on Wednesday. Early rounds in Melbourne are more often than not a formality for the No. 4 seed. Only twice in the decade has Djokovic failed to make the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.
Francesco Maestrelli had to battle through three qualifying rounds just to get to this stage. The big-serving Pisa native will have to curtail his unforced errors, of which he made 45 against Atmane, if he is to have any chance of finding a way past Djokovic.
Mastrelli lacks the big-match experience to trouble Djokovic, who will take advantage of even the smallest hint of weakness from his Italian opponent.
Result: Djokovic to win in four sets.
Where and how to watch the live telecast and live streaming of the second round between Novak Djokovic and Francesco Maestrelli at the Australian Open 2026?
The second round between Novak Djokovic and Francesco Maestrelli at the 2026 Australian Open will be broadcast on the Sony Network for Indian viewers. Residents of the United States can tune in to the Tennis Channel and ESPN. Fans in the United Kingdom can stream the match on Eurosport.
When is the Novak Djokovic vs Francesco Maestrelli match scheduled?
The second-round clash is scheduled for January 22, 2026, Thursday at the Australian Open.
Where will the Djokovic vs Maestrelli match be played?
The match will take place at Melbourne Park, Australia, on a hard court surface.
Have Novak Djokovic and Francesco Maestrelli played each other before?
No, this will be their first-ever meeting on the ATP Tour.
Who is the favourite to win Djokovic vs Maestrelli?
Novak Djokovic is the heavy favourite, given his unmatched record in Melbourne and Maestrelli’s limited Grand Slam experience.
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Meet Fazeel—a bibliophile and sci-fi aficionado who devours books and movies alike. His favorite form of exercise? Watching tennis from a perfectly positioned couch. Whether he's lost in a gripping novel or absorbed in a five-hour Grand Slam final, he's all in. Favorite quote: “You cannot be serious” – John McEnroe.