Maestrelli Triumphs Over Atmane, Faces Djokovic in Thrilling Second Round Clash
In the first round of the 2026 Australian Open qualifiers, several notable matches took place at Melbourne Park. Among the standout performers were Francesco Maestrelli and Stefano Travaglia, who both advanced to the next stage of the competition.
Maestrelli Triumphs Over Giustino
Francesco Maestrelli, currently ranked 141 in the ATP standings, faced off against Lorenzo Giustino, who holds the 210th position. The match ended with Maestrelli winning decisively, with scores of 7-6, 6-1. The match lasted roughly 80 minutes.
The 23-year-old from Pisa will next compete against Brazil’s Tiago Seyboth Wild. Wild, 25 years old and ranked 216, has seen a decline from his earlier ranking of 158 two years ago.
Travaglia Advances After Challenging Match
Stefano Travaglia, ranked 189 in the ATP, also secured a victory against Australian Blake Ellis, who is currently 441st in the rankings. The match was tightly contested, finishing with scores of 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 over the course of 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Next, the 34-year-old from Ascoli Piceno will face Martin Landaluce, a promising young player from Spain, ranked 149.
Cinà’s Impressive Performance
Another notable advancement was by Federico Cinà, an 18-year-old from Palermo. He triumphed over South Africa’s Lloyd Harris, currently ranked 221, with a final score of 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3. This match spanned 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Cinà’s next opponent will be Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, the 30th seed in the qualifiers, who recently defeated Mexican player Pacheco Mendez with a score of 6-1, 6-2.
Cecchinato Faces Setback
Unfortunately for Marco Cecchinato, he could not secure his spot in the second round. He lost to Belgium’s Alexander Blockx, ranked 95 and seeded seventh in the qualifiers. The match concluded with a score of 6-3, 6-4, taking just over an hour.
Upcoming Matches
The next round of matches will be pivotal as players vie for positions in the main draw. The draw will take place on Thursday, January 15th, with main matches commencing on Sunday, January 18th.
