Novak Djokovic vs Pedro Martínez prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head, preview: Australian Open 2026
Djokovic is looking to claim his 100th win at the Australian Open.
The 2026 Australian Open kicks off with Novak Djokovic, a 10-time champion at Melbourne Park and world No. 4 seed, beginning his quest for a record-extending 11th title and an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam.
At 38, the Serbian legend enters Melbourne Park amid some fitness concerns, including a recent neck issue, after not competing since winning the Athens title in November 2025.
Djokovic, chasing to end an eight-Slam title drought dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, received a relatively kind draw opening. He recently looked sharp in an exhibition win over Frances Tiafoe, signaling good form despite limited match play.
Opponent Pedro Martinez is coming off a Challenger title in Bangalore, brings gritty baseline play but lacks the weapons to consistently trouble the Serb on hard courts, where Djokovic has posted a strong 21-6 record over the past year.
Match details
- Tournament: Australian Open 2026
- Round: First round
- Date: January 19
- Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
- Surface: Hard Court
Preview
This first-round clash on Rod Laver Arena appears heavily one-sided. Martinez excels on clay with strong defensive skills and endurance, but hard courts expose his limitations in serve power and aggressive shot-making against elite returners like Djokovic.
The Serb’s exceptional movement, precise groundstrokes, and mental fortitude in best-of-five sets make him a nightmare matchup for lower-ranked players here.
Head-to-head stands at 0-0 (first meeting), but Djokovic’s history in early rounds at Melbourne is flawless, he rarely drops sets against non-top-tier opposition.
Martinez’s recent hard-court form has been inconsistent, with low return game success (around 19% over the past year), while Djokovic thrives under Melbourne’s lights and crowd pressure.
Form
- Novak Djokovic: W-W-W-W-L
- Pedro Martínez: W-W-W-W-W
Head-to-head record
- Matches: 0
- Novak Djokovic: 0
- Pedro Martínez: 0
Stats
Novak Djokovic
- Djokovic has a 99-9 win-loss record in Melbourne
- Djokovic was a semi-finalist at the 2025 Australian Open
- Djokovic has a 85.51% winning record on hardcourt
Pedro Martinez
- Martinez has a 10-7 win-loss record in Melbourne
- Martinez did not play the 2025 Australian Open singles event
- Martinez has a 50.7% winning record on hardcourt
Also Read: Top five title favourites in men’s singles at Australian Open 2026
Novak Djokovic vs Pedro Martínez: Betting tips and odds
- Moneyline: Novak Djokovic -2710, Pedro Martinez +1600
- Spread: Novak Djokovic -9.5 (-1040), Pedro Martinez +9.5 (-130)
- Total games: Over 29.5 (+186), Under 29.5 (-115)
- 1st set winner: Novak Djokovic -647, Pedro Martinez +505
Match prediction
Djokovic is expected to win comfortably in straight sets. This opener serves as an ideal tune-up for the Serb to build rhythm ahead of tougher tests deeper in the draw, including a potential semi-final blockbuster against defending champion Jannik Sinner.
Martinez will fight but lacks the tools to pull off an upset against one of the greatest players in history on his favorite court. This contest will give better insights on Djokovic’s physical fitness readiness.
Result: Novak Djokovic to win in straight sets.
Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Novak Djokovic vs Pedro Martínez, first-round match at Australian Open 2026?
The much-anticipated men’s singles opening round match of the Australian Open 2026 will be available for the Indian viewers on the Sony Sports Network on TV and its streaming service Sony Liv.
In the USA, the first Major of the year is being telecasted on the ESPN sports network and is being streamed on Fubo. In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on Eurosport. It will also be available for users on the Discovery+ app.
Full worldwide broadcast details here
Where and when will Novak Djokovic vs Pedro Martinez first-round match at Australian Open 2026 take place?
The opening round clash will be played at the Rod Laver Arena on January 19 (Monday) and has a tentative start time of 9:15 pm local time and 3:45 pm IST in India.
Has Novak Djokovic and Pedro Martinez met before?
No, this will be their first-ever meeting on tour.
Who is the favourite to win this first-round match at the Australian Open 2026?
Djokovic is expected to win comfortably in straight sets. This opener serves as an ideal tune-up for the Serb to build rhythm ahead of tougher tests deeper in the draw, including a potential semi-final blockbuster against defending champion Jannik Sinner.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.