Francesco Maestrelli to Face Djokovic in Thrilling Second Round Match

The men’s qualifying rounds for the Australian Open 2026 are in full swing at Melbourne Park, with major matchups already unfolding. The draw for the main event is set for January 15, followed by the start of the tournament on January 18. Several notable players have advanced past the first round, including Francesco Maestrelli and Stefano Travaglia.

Francesco Maestrelli Advances

Francesco Maestrelli, currently ranked 141st in the ATP rankings, is the 24th seed in the qualifiers. In a tightly contested match, he defeated fellow Italian Lorenzo Giustino, ranked 210th, with a score of 7-6, 6-1. This match lasted one hour and twenty minutes.

Upcoming Match Against Djokovic

With this victory, the 23-year-old from Pisa will face Brazilian Tiago Seyboth Wild in the next round. Seyboth Wild, 25, is ranked 216th but was once as high as 158th. This match offers Maestrelli a chance to cement his position further in the tournament.

Other Qualifying Players

• Stefano Travaglia: Ranked 189th, he won against Australian Blake Ellis, who is ranked 441st. The score was 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in a match lasting one hour and fifty minutes. Travaglia will next take on Spanish player Martin Landaluce, ranked 149th.
• Federico Cinà: The 18-year-old from Palermo, ranked 235th, defeated South African Lloyd Harris (221st) with a score of 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3, in a two-hour and fifteen-minute match. His next opponent will be Paraguayan Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, the 30th seed in the qualifiers.
• Marco Cecchinato: The 230th ranked player faced defeat against Belgian Alexander Blockx, who is ranked 95th and is the seventh seed in the qualifiers. The match ended with a score of 6-3, 6-4 in just one hour and six minutes.

The qualifiers continue to deliver excitement as players get closer to securing their spots in the main draw of the Australian Open 2026. Fans are eager to see how Francisco Maestrelli performs against the formidable Novak Djokovic in the second round, a match anticipated to be a highlight of the tournament.