ATP Tour
When do Sinner & Djokovic play on Thursday at the Australian Open?
Italian faces Duckworth, Djokovic meets Maestrelli
January 21, 2026
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Jannik Sinner is in action on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday in Melbourne.
By ATP Staff
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will continue their Australian Open campaigns Thursday on Rod Laver Arena.
The two-time defending champion Sinner will face Australian wild card James Duckworth in the next stage of his three-peat attempt at the hard-court major. The Italian, who has not lost in Melbourne since 2023, will open the evening session not before 7 p.m. AEDT / 3 a.m. EST. Sinner leads Duckworth 2-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, but they have not met since 2021.
View Thursday’s schedule here.
Earlier in the day on Rod Laver Arena, record 10-time titlist Djokovic will meet Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in the second round, with the match not before 1:30 p.m. AEDT / 10:30 p.m. EST Wednesday. Djokovic was close to his best in his first-round win against Pedro Martinez, advancing 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in his first match since he won his 101st tour-level title in Athens in November. Djokovic and Maestrelli will follow the women’s singles clash between Jessica Pegula and McCartney Kessler.
The fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti and 12th seed Casper Ruud are both in action on Margaret Court Arena, while American Top 10 stars Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz play on John Cain Arena. Stan Wawrinka is playing at the Australian Open for the final time. The 2014 champion takes on French qualifier Arthur Gea, third on Kia Arena.
