Australian Open tennis 2026 live: Novak Djokovic on Rod Laver Arena on day five, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis start doubles

Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata has avoided a first-set bagel against Valentin Vacherot, forcing the 30th seed to serve it out at 5-1.

You've got to take the small wins.

Karen Khachanov appears to have plans this afternoon.

The 15th-seeded Russian has made a blistering start his second-round encounter against US qualfier Nishesh Basavareddy.

Khachanov, who reached the AO semis in 2023, secured three service breaks to wrap up the first set 6-1 in just 27 minutes.

After taking over an hour to win the first set in her opening match, defending champion Madison Keys has rushed through the first frame against compatriot Ashlyn Krueger in just 23 minutes today.

She broke three times for the 6-1 win and now has the benefit of serving first in the second on John Cain Arena.

She could be all done inside an hour.

After being broken in the second game of the match against 30th seed Valentin Vacherot, Rinky Hijikata still has a zero next to his name through three games.

He had four break-point chances on Vacherot's serve there but couldn't convert any and Vacherot takes a 3-0 lead on Kia Arena.

You'll regularly see world number one and two warming up against each other, and here are Lorenzos Musetti and Sonego just practising their serves together.

The Italian pair are facing off on Margaret Court Arena in about five minutes.

Hijikata, who's never been past the second round of his home grand slam, is up against 30th seed Valentin Vacherot.

If you're wondering who Vacherot is, he was the most unlikely and heartwarming Masters champion of 2025.

While ranked 204th in the world, he had the best two weeks of his life, coming through qualifying for the Shanghai Masters in October and beat the 10th, 14th, 20th and 27th seeds to reach the semis.

He then took down Novak Djokovic in straight sets before facing French cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final, which he won 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

But now he has the target on his back thanks to a number next to his name on the draw, so Hijikata will hope to flip the script against the Monégasque today.

The 2022 men's doubles winners, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, are set to return to the court to kick off their campaign today.

They will face fellow Australian wildcard pair Marc Polmans and Jason Kubler on Kia Arena not before 4pm AEDT.

That's the only doubles match on any of the main showcourts.

We've got 11 of the top-10 seeds across the men's and women's singles on court on day five and there's a lot of split allegiances going on.

We kick off the day on John Cain Arena with defending champion Madison Keys against fellow American Ashlyn Krueger.

Italian men's fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti meets countryman and fellow Lorenzo, Signore Sonego in the first match on Margaret Court Arena.

And women's sixth seed Jessica Pegula is up first on Rod Laver Arena in an all-American clash with McCartney Kessler, which may be the most American name I've ever heard.

US eighth seed Ben Shelton takes on Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny after Keys and Krueger's match on JCA.

In the first matches of the afternoon session from 1:L:30pm AEDT, fourth seed Novak Djokovic goes for his 101st Australian Open victory against another Italian, Francesco Maestrelli, on Rod Laver Arena. Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova, the women's fourth seed, meets Katerina Siniakova on Margaret Court.

Second seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner kicks off the centre court action tonight against Aussie wildcard James Duckworth, followed by fifth seed Elena Rybakina.

The evening slate on John Cain Arena includes women's second seed Iga Swiatek and men's number nine Taylor Fritz, while Swiss 10th seed Belinda Bencic is last on ANZ Arena.

You can feel the tension rising a little at Melbourne Park as we approach the end of week one and the second round of the singles is in full swing.

Today we've got Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in action.

There are also five local hopes hitting the court in the singles, starting with Rinky Hijikata first thing from 11am AEDT.

Let's get into it!

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