HIGHLIGHTS-Tennis-Australian Open day five
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 22, 2026 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his second round match against Italy's Francesco Maestrelli REUTERS/Edgar Su
Follow topic:
Jan 22 - Highlights of the fifth day at the Australian Open on Thursday (times GMT):
0500 ROUTINE WIN FOR DJOKOVIC
Ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic barely broke a sweat in a 6-3 6-2 6-2 win against Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli to reach the third round.
0450 NOSKOVA ENDS PRESTON'S FIGHTBACK
Czech Republic's Linda Noskova defeated Australian wildcard Taylah Preston 6-2 4-6 6-2. Preston made a strong comeback in the second set but ran out of steam against the 13th seed in the decider.
0330 MUSETTI WINS ITALIAN BATTLE
Lorenzo Musetti, the fifth seed, dominated his Italian counterpart Lorenzo Sonego, winning the contest 6-3 6-3 6-4 to advance to the third round.
Musetti outperformed his namesake in long rallies while the 30-year-old Sonego appeared to be struggling physically towards the end against his younger opponent.
0330 HOME FAVOURITES OUSTED EARLY
Australian wild card Rinky Hijikata went down 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-2 against the 30th seed Valentin Vacherot, while Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny lost 6-3 6-2 6-2 to American Ben Shelton.
READ MORE
Tennis-Defending champion Keys survives mid-set wobble to advance
Tennis-Alcaraz, Sabalenka pass Australian Open tests to reach third round
Tennis-Zverev overcomes Muller to make third round in Melbourne
Tennis-Sweeny faces 'consolation prize' Shelton, fashionista Osaka back on court
Tennis-Federer's smooth golf swing in Melbourne leaves Alcaraz impressed
Tennis-Turkey's Sonmez soaks up the support in dream Melbourne run
0315 PLISKOVA WINS IN STRAIGHT SETS
Former world number one Karolina Pliskova, who had two surgeries on her left ankle last year and played only three games, defeated Indonesian Janice Tjen 6-4 6-4 to reach the third round.
0210 QUICK WINS FOR KHACHANOV, MENSIK
Karen Khachanov took a comfortable 6-1 6-4 6-3 win over American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy, while the 16th seed Jakub Mensik also made quick work of Spanish qualifier Rafael Jodar, winning 6-2 6-4 6-4. Both the matches ended in less than two hours.
0150 BADOSA ELIMINATED
The 25th seed, Paula Badosa, a semifinalist in Melbourne 12 months ago, made an early exit, losing to the unseeded Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-4 6-4 in her second round contest.
0140 PEGULA ADVANCES
Jessica Pegula, the sixth seed, dominated the second-round contest against her fellow American McCartney Kessler, winning 6-0 6-2 to advance to the third round.
0126 KEYS MOVES PAST KRUEGER
Defending champion Madison Keys beat American compatriot Ashlyn Krueger 6-1 7-5 to reach the third round.
0010 PLAY UNDERWAY
The main showcase courts at Melbourne Park are buzzing on Thursday with defending champion Italian Jannik Sinner set to continue his bid for a third Australian Open title against local contender James Duckworth on Rod Laver Arena, while 10-time winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia meets Italian Francesco Maestrelli earlier in the day.
The Margaret Court Arena hosts the "Battle of Lorenzos" as Italy's Lorenzo Musetti faces compatriot Lorenzo Sonego.
Women's world number two, Poland's Iga Swiatek, and Japan's Naomi Osaka are also among the top names in action across the courts in partly sunny conditions.
ORDER OF PLAY ON THURSDAY (prefix number denotes seeding):
Rod Laver Arena:
Day session (0030 GMT/1130 AEDT)
6-Jessica Pegula (U.S.) v McCartney Kessler (U.S.)
Francesco Maestrelli (Italy) v 4-Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Night session (0800 GMT/1900 AEDT)
James Duckworth (Australia) v 2-Jannik Sinner (Italy)
5-Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) v Varvara Gracheva (France)
Margaret Court Arena:
Day session (0030 GMT/1130 AEDT)
5-Lorenzo Musetti (Italy) v Lorenzo Sonego (Italy)
Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic) v 4-Amanda Anisimova (U.S.)
Night session (0800 GMT/1900 AEDT)
16-Naomi Osaka (Japan) v Sorana Cirstea (Romania)
Jaume Munar (Spain) v 12-Casper Ruud (Norway)
John Cain Arena:
Day session (0000 GMT/1100 AEDT)
Ashlyn Krueger (U.S.) v 9-Madison Keys (U.S.)
8-Ben Shelton (U.S.) v Dane Sweeny (Australia)
Night session (0600 GMT/1700 AEDT)
Marie Bouzkova (Czech Republic) v 2-Iga Swiatek (Poland)
Vit Kopriva (Czech Republic) v 9-Taylor Fritz (U.S.) REUTERS
