The Australian Open, the prestigious opening Grand Slam of the tennis calendar, continues its thrilling run as the tournament moves into its fifth day on Thursday, 22 January 2026. The spotlight shines brightly on the Rod Laver Arena, where tennis history is poised to be written once more.
Djokovic's Historic Pursuit Continues
Novak Djokovic, the ten-time Australian Open champion, resumes his formidable bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. The Serbian maestro looked in imperious form during his opening round victory over Pedro Martinez, a match that also marked his 100th career win at this tournament. Djokovic now sets his sights on Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli, who is currently ranked 141st in the world. This encounter represents another step in Djokovic's relentless march towards further cementing his legendary status in the sport.
Sinner Faces Hostile Crowd
Defending champion Jannik Sinner also returns to centre court action. The Italian enjoyed a swift passage through his first match, with French opponent Hugo Gaston retiring after just two sets. Sinner's challenge intensifies in the second round as he prepares to face the home crowd's favourite, Australian wildcard James Duckworth, who is ranked 88th globally. This match promises to be a compelling test of Sinner's focus and resilience under pressure.
Star-Studded Schedule Across Courts
The day's action is packed with elite talent across all major arenas. Naomi Osaka makes her much-anticipated return following her dramatic entrance earlier in the week. Other major stars scheduled to compete include world number one Iga Swiatek, American powerhouse Madison Keys, the returning Amanda Anisimova, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, and Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka.
The comprehensive order of play for Day Five features matches across multiple courts, ensuring non-stop tennis entertainment for fans worldwide.
Rod Laver Arena Highlights
- Novak Djokovic (SRB) [4] vs Francesco Maestrelli (ITA)
- James Duckworth (AUS) vs Jannik Sinner (ITA) [2]
- Elena Rybakina (KAZ) [5] vs Varvara Gracheva (FRA)
Margaret Court Arena Features
- Naomi Osaka (JPN) [16] vs Sorana Cirstea (ROU)
- Jaume Munar (ESP) vs Casper Ruud (NOR) [12]
John Cain Arena Showcases
- Marie Bouzkova (CZE) vs Iga Swiatek (POL) [2]
- Vit Kopriva (CZE) vs Taylor Fritz (USA) [9]
Further matches are scheduled across KIA Arena, 1573 Arena, ANZ Arena, and Courts 5 through 15, featuring both singles and doubles competitions.
Complete Tournament Schedule
The Australian Open maintains a packed schedule through to the finals in early February. Following the conclusion of the second round on Thursday, the tournament progresses as follows:
- Friday 23 January: Third round singles and second round doubles commence.
- Weekend of 24-25 January: Third round continues with mixed doubles and junior competitions beginning.
- Monday 26 January: Fourth round singles and third round doubles take centre stage.
- Tuesday 27 January: Quarter-finals begin across singles, doubles, and mixed competitions.
- Thursday 29 January: Women's singles semi-finals headline the day's action.
- Friday 30 January: Men's singles semi-finals and wheelchair doubles finals.
- Saturday 31 January: Women's singles final, men's and women's doubles finals.
- Sunday 1 February: Tournament concludes with the men's singles final.
This meticulously planned schedule ensures two weeks of world-class tennis, showcasing the very best the sport has to offer on the iconic blue courts of Melbourne Park.
