Djokovic, Sinner and Keys highlight Melbourne day five
Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys will hope to avoid being on the end of a major upset as the second round of the Australian Open concludes on Thursday.
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Novak Djokovic is also in action on day five at Melbourne Park as he resumes his bid to win a record 25th Grand Slam crown.
Sinner, who is attempting to win a third Australian Open in a row, coasted through round one when his French opponent Hugo Gaston retired with the Italian in a commanding 6-2, 6-1 lead.
The second seed will be strong favourite against the 88th-ranked Australian James Duckworth but will have to face down a partisan home crowd on Rod Laver Arena.
Along with world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who is already into round three, Sinner's other chief rival in Australia is Serbian great Djokovic.
The 38-year-old, who has won a record 10 titles in Melbourne, looked imperious in his 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 first-round victory over Spain's Pedro Martinez.
It was his landmark 100th Australian Open victory and a statement of intent as he looks finally to claim a 25th Slam title.
The former world No 1, now ranked four, has been tied with Australia's Margaret Court on the all-time list since clinching his 24th major at the US Open in 2023.
Alcaraz and Sinner have won all eight Slams since.
"I couldn't ask for more. Obviously a great serving performance," he said after his demolition of Martinez on Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic plays Francesco Maestrelli of Italy.
Djokovic has made the evening slot on centre court – when the sometimes ferocious Melbourne heat has eased off – his own in recent years.
But on Thursday, when temperatures will be considerably down on recent days, he will play in the afternoon on centre court, followed by Sinner.
Also in action are fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti, eighth seed Ben Shelton and ninth seed Taylor Fritz.
'TOO TIMID'
In the women's draw, the American ninth seed Keys plays in the morning on John Cain Arena when she faces compatriot Ashlyn Krueger.
Keys, who stunned top seed Aryna Sabalenka a year ago to win her maiden major aged 29, made a sluggish start to her title defence.
She admitted to being "very nervous" and "too timid" as she belatedly found her feet to beat Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova 7-6 (8/6), 6-1.
Also playing is second seed Iga Swiatek, who has won six major titles but never been successful in Melbourne.
The Pole faces Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.
Fourth seeded American Amanda Anisimova, and fifth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan will also be in second-round action.
Two-time former champion Naomi Osaka, who made a grand entrance on Tuesday in a jellyfish inspired outfit, plays Romania's Sorana Cirstea.
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