Novak Djokovic has moved into the third round of the Australian Open after a straightforward win over Francesco Maestrelli.
Djokovic started his campaign with a straight-sets win over Pedro Martinez, marking his 100th victory at the tournament.
He repeated that exact scoreline against Maestrelli to set up a third-round match against Botic van de Zandschulp.
The Serbian, seeded fourth this year, is chasing an 11th title in Melbourne and is already looking sharp in the early rounds.
Novak Djokovic credits off-season for strong Australian Open start
Following the win, Djokovic spoke about how his approach has helped him stay at the top. The 38-year-old was asked about playing more aggressively and how effective his serve has been lately.
“Yeah, I mean, I always try to work with purpose. I had a longer off-season, like the off-season before this one,” he said.
“When I have more time, then I obviously try to look at my game and different elements that I can really improve. Otherwise, what’s the point?
“What’s the point of competing and coming out and not really trying to be better than you were the season before? That’s the kind of mentality I try to nurture. It’s been allowing me to play at the highest level at this age.
“I’m glad that it’s paying off, the work I’ve done in the off-season. It’s the beginning of the tournament. Obviously I haven’t played any lead-up tournament.
“I’m really happy I’m able to play this way, considering the lack of competitive matches for more than two months. It’s all been positive so far, positive signs. But I’ve got to keep it up obviously.”
Novak Djokovic remains a standard-bearer for aspiring players
Djokovic has done more than just remain relevant at this stage of his career – he is still adding to his legacy.
The Serbian has not played since early November, yet he has not looked rusty at all so far in Melbourne.
He pulled out of the ATP Finals after his title win in Greece and then decided to skip Adelaide as well, opting instead for an extended break before the new season.
Even so, Djokovic remains a fantastic example for young players across the tour, offering lessons both on and off the court that go beyond just technique.
At the same time, though, he is reminding those same players that he is not ready to step aside just yet. There is still plenty of fight left in him.
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