Photo by Kym Illman/Getty ImagesLiam McMillenThu, January 15, 2026 at 12:20 PM UTC·2 min read

Novak Djokovic is stepping up his preparations for the Australian Open, taking on Frances Tiafoe in a Melbourne exhibition match.

The Serbian came away with a 6-3, 6-4 victory, which was a positive response after he pulled out of a practice session with Daniil Medvedev over concerns about his wrist.

He hasn’t won a Grand Slam since the US Open back in 2023, and there are plenty of questions about how far he can go in this year’s tournament. He has yet to reach another Grand Slam final since then either.

Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images

Speaking ahead of his match with Tiafoe, Djokovic was asked about Jordan Smith’s run to the title, where he beat names like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Coco Gauff along the way. Djokovic enjoyed what he saw from the new event and praised Smith’s remarkable victory.

He said: “I saw the guys court side enjoying themselves and what an amazing evening for Jordan Smith! Amazing.”

Djokovic will continue getting ready through the week before play officially starts on 18 January.

The Australian Open draw is out, and Novak Djokovic has been paired with Spain’s Pedro Martinez for the opening round.

At 28, Martinez has established himself as a reliable player on tour, and he’s represented Spain well in the Davis Cup over the years.

This will be their first meeting on court, but with experience inside the top 40, Martinez isn’t likely to be an easy out for Djokovic.

Martinez is currently ranked world number 71 and finished 2025 with a 16-27 record. He hasn’t played at ATP Tour level yet this year but did make it to the final of the Bengaluru Challenger in India recently.

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