VIDEO SHOWS: POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE NOVAK DJOKOVIC, LORENZO MUSETTI, BEN SHELTON AND AMANDA ANISIMOVA AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 22, 2026) (TENNIS AUSTRALIA - See restrictions) 1. FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE NOVAK DJOKOVIC SETTLING IN FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DJOKOVIC ON HIS WIN OVER FRANCESCO MAESTRELLI: "Yeah, actually the same scoreline, so kind of similar feeling on the court of generally positive. Served better in the first match. I mean, did feel like completely two different tournaments playing at night and day today, particularly with the wind that I think has been blowing this year more than any other year that I've been playing here in Australia. Obviously have to adjust to that and adapt to a different opponent with big serve. But, I mean, overall it's good, I'm pleased with the way I'm moving and hitting the ball. Yeah, look forward to the next one." 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DJOKOVIC ON HIS WIN OVER HIS OFF-SEASON HARDWORK: "Yeah, I mean, I always try to work with purpose. I had a longer off-season, like the off-season before this one. 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 still 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. So it's all been positive so far, positive signs. But I've got to keep it up obviously." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN FIFTH SEED LORENZO MUSETTI ON HIS STRAIGHT-SET WIN: "Yeah, well, it was not an easy match to prepare, to play, and to deal with, because Lorenzo, yeah, as you mentioned, is one of my best friends on tour. We recently had a title together in doubles, so we shared a lot of nice memories, so it's not easy to separate those things in the court. But I'm really, really happy and proud of what I achieved today in straight sets, so I'm happy to be, again, in the third round." 8. WHITE FLASH 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN EIGHTH SEED BEN SHELTON ON HIS NEXT MATCH WITH VALENTIN VACHEROT: "Yeah, I think it just shows that, you know, the game of tennis is very mental, and the level difference between guys who are playing challengers to the top of the world, it's not massive. I played him in one of the early challengers I played, and we had an absolute war. I think I beat him 5 or 6 in the third. Even since he was in college, he's always been a problem. I'm not shocked to see him, you know, in the top 100 and having great results on the tour. I think that he has a lot of weapons. I think he's great physically. I think he's a tough competitor. Yeah, I think it's a great third-round matchup. So I'm looking forward to it. Obviously the first time that we're playing on the main tour and a college matchup, SEC matchup. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it." 10. WHITE FLASH 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WOMEN'S FOURTH SEED AMANDA ANISIMOVA ON CHANGING HER SERVICE MOTION OVER THE YEARS: "Yeah, that's a good question. I mean, I never really thought about changing much on my groundstrokes. Like, my serve is something I really want to improve on, so I've made a few adjustments there, some minor switches. Yeah, I think we're always trying to get that extra edge on our serve because it's so important. I think some players have changed their groundstrokes a bit, but that's not something I've really touched on." 12. WHITE FLASH 13. ANISIMOVA LEAVING THE PRESS CONFERENCE STORY: Novak Djokovic systematically dismantled Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3 6-2 6-2 on Thursday (January 22) to reach the third round of the Australian Open in his quest to make more history on Rod Laver Arena. Fourth seed Djokovic maintained a steady grip on the second-round clash without needing to shift into top gear as he seeks a record-extending 11th Melbourne Park title and 25th Grand Slam trophy overall to break a deadlock with Margaret Court. Djokovic is playing in his first event of the season, having skipped the Adelaide tune-up, a decision that followed his move to end his 2025 season after winning his 101st title in Athens in November. The world number four said the off-season was spent working on making his game more potent. "I always try to work with purpose. I had a longer off-season, like the off-season before this one. When I have more time, then I obviously try to look at my game and different elements that I can really improve," he told reporters. "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 mentality I try to nurture. It's been allowing me to play at the highest level at this age. "I'm glad it's paying off, the work I've done in the off-season. It's the beginning of the tournament. I haven't played any lead-up tournament. "I'm 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. I've got to keep it up." Meanwhile, Lorenzo Musetti, who dominated his Italian counterpart Lorenzo Sonego, winning the contest 6-3 6-3 6-4, said "it wasn't an easy match" to win but expressed happiness of sealing the win in straight sets. American Ben Shelton defeated Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny 6-3 6-2 6-2, and will face a tight contest against Valentin Vacherot, who showed his maiden ATP Masters triumph last year was a genuine breakthrough rather than a flash in the pan, after becoming the first player from Monaco to reach the third round of a Grand Slam. In the women's contest, fourth seed Amanda Anisimova made it to the third round after a 6-1 6-4 win, beating Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova. (Production: Suramya Kaushik) (The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)
