Novak Djokovic continued his commanding start at the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory over Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli, winning 6-3 6-2 6-2 and advancing comfortably to the third round. The Serbian star dropped just seven games in the match, extending his record at Grand Slam tournaments and moving to 399 career Grand Slam singles wins, just one short of an unprecedented 400-win milestone.
Despite the routine nature of the win, tennis great John McEnroe offered an interesting perspective on Djokovic’s performance. Speaking after the match, McEnroe suggested that while the level was solid and efficient, it was not among Djokovic’s most impressive displays. He noted that Djokovic appeared slightly irritable on court, even though the contest was never in doubt. According to McEnroe, the most important factor at this stage of the tournament is conserving energy, something Djokovic achieved by closing out the match quickly without being dragged into long five-set battles.
McEnroe also reflected on Djokovic’s age and workload, pointing out that managing recovery between matches is crucial. He referenced previous Grand Slam campaigns where early efficiency did not necessarily guarantee peak performance in the later rounds, emphasizing that stamina across two weeks remains a key question for top players. As the current world number three, Djokovic’s ability to balance match sharpness with physical preservation could define how deep he goes in Melbourne this year.
Former world number one Boris Becker, however, struck a more optimistic tone. Becker highlighted that Djokovic looks far fresher compared to some of his recent Grand Slam outings, where physical fatigue became evident before the semifinals. He stressed that Djokovic’s relaxed demeanor and smooth movement on court suggest that his preparation has been spot on so far. From Becker’s perspective, everything appears to be aligning well for the Serbian, particularly in terms of physical condition and match rhythm.
Djokovic will next face Botic van de Zandschulp in the third round, as he continues his pursuit of another Australian Open title and a historic Grand Slam milestone. With legends of the game closely analyzing his form, all eyes will remain on how Djokovic navigates the tournament’s later stages as the level of competition intensifies.