The 2026 Australian Open kicked off in style on Sunday, January 18, and if day one is anything to go by, fans are in for a treat with this edition of the first major of the year.
As always, the action is unpredictable, with upsets happening where least expected.
Carlos Alcaraz opened his campaign on Rod Laver Arena by beating Adam Walton 6-3, 7-6(7-2), 6-2. The Spaniard relied on crisp baseline rallies after going through a tight second-set tiebreak.
Alexander Zverev bounced back from a 6-7(1-7) first-set drop to defeat Gabriel Diallo 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. Frances Tiafoe held firm against Jason Kubler, winning 7-6(7-4), 6-3, 6-2 while receiving immense support from the crowd.
Cameron Norrie fought through a four-setter over Benjamin Bonzi, 6-0, 6-7(2-7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, doubling down on his skills to take the decider.
Qualifier Arthur Fery pulled off a clean 7-6(7-1), 6-4, 6-1 upset of 20th seed Flavio Cobolli on John Cain Arena, marking the first big upset of the event so far.
Francisco Cerúndolo sent off Zhang Zhizhen with a 6-3, 7-6(7-0), 6-3 scoreline, while Michael Zheng edged Sebastian, Korda 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0-7), 6-3 in five sets.
On the women’s side, top seed Aryna Sabalenka did not waste time before ending wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4, 6-1 at night, recording an effortless victory.
Emma Raducanu found victory on day one, with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat over Mananchaya Sawangkaew on Margaret Court Arena.
Jasmine Paolini crushed Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1, 6-2, and Elina Svitolina downed Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-1.
More upsets lit up courts as former world number one, Venus Williams, suffered an early exit after falling to Olga Danilovic 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 6-4.
Turkish Zeynep Sonmez toppled 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to progress to round two, while Elena-Gabriela Ruse extended her stay at the event by beating 26th seed Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 7-5. Elsa Jacquemot outlasted 20th seed Marta Kostyuk 6-7(4), 7-6(7-4), 7-6(10-7) after 3 hours and 31 minutes.
The action will continue for the next two weeks, with more victories and upsets expected, as players battle for grand slam glory.
