The Australian Open 2026 is officially underway, and the opening day in Melbourne delivered exactly what fans expect from the season’s first Grand Slam: drama, surprises, standout performances, and emotional moments. From dominant wins by top seeds to painful early exits and unforgettable storylines, here is a comprehensive expert recap of Day 1 at the Australian Open.
How Did the Top Seeds Perform?
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, watched closely by tennis legends Roger Federer and Rod Laver, opened her campaign with a tense victory over wildcard Tianzoa Rakotomananga Rajaona, who prefers to be called “Sarah.” The first set was highly competitive, but Sabalenka eventually pulled away to win 6–4, 6–1. The match also produced an unusual moment when Sabalenka accidentally struck her opponent with the ball.
Alexander Bublik delivered one of the most impressive performances of the day, dismantling the dangerous Jenson Brooksby with remarkable control and attacking precision. Bublik won 6–4, 6–4, 6–4, showcasing a confident backhand and near-total command of the ball throughout most of the match.
World No.3 Alexander Zverev dropped the opening set to Gabriel Diallo but recovered convincingly, winning 6–7(1), 6–1, 6–4, 6–2. Diallo’s aggressive and disciplined start faded as unforced errors crept in.
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz began his Australian Open in businesslike fashion, defeating Adam Walton 6–3, 7–6(2), 6–2. The Spaniard briefly lost and then regained a break in the second set, mixing efficiency with flashes of creativity.
Costly Mistakes: Early Exits for Alexandrovа and Pavlyuchenkova
World No.11 Ekaterina Alexandrova suffered a painful defeat against qualifier Zeynep Sönmez, losing 5–7, 6–4, 4–6. Alexandrova led 5–2 with a set point in the opening set and 3–0 in the deciding set, but failed to close either advantage. This marks her third consecutive first-round exit at the Australian Open.
Former finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also experienced heartbreak, missing a match point in the final-set tiebreak against world No.697 qualifier Zhoxuan Bai.
Shot of the Day: Maria Sakkari
Maria Sakkari produced arguably the shot of the tournament’s opening day with a stunning return winner. Even she appeared stunned afterward:
“I’m 30 years old and I’ve been playing tennis for 25 years, and I never imagined I could hit a return like that. You see shots like this from Roger Federer or Carlos Alcaraz — and then there was me. I’m sure this will be one of the best shots of the tournament.”
Firsts of the Tournament
Several milestones were recorded on Day 1:
- Anna Blinkova suffered the tournament’s first loss, falling unexpectedly to Australian wildcard Talia Gibson 1–6, 3–6
- Dayana Yastremska became the first seeded player eliminated, losing to Elena-Gabriela Ruse 4–6, 5–7
- Flavio Cobolli required the first medical timeout and first video review, eventually losing to world No.185 Arthur Fery 6–7(1), 4–6, 1–6
Match of the Day: Jacquemot vs Kostyuk
Elsa Jacquemot and Marta Kostyuk battled for over three and a half hours, becoming the first women in Australian Open history to contest three tiebreaks in a single match. Jacquemot emerged victorious.
Kostyuk, who entered Melbourne in strong form after multiple top-10 wins and a Brisbane final, served for the second set before losing momentum. She later suffered an ankle injury in the third set.
One-Handed Backhand of the Day: Corentin Moutet
Corentin Moutet delivered a spectacular one-handed backhand winner — particularly notable given that he usually hits his backhand with two hands.
Comeback of the Day: Anastasia Potapova
Representing Austria at her first Grand Slam under the new flag, Anastasia Potapova staged an impressive comeback against Suzan Lamens, winning 3–6, 7–5, 6–2 after trailing 1–5 in the second set.
Emotional Moments and Sportsmanship
Yulia Putintseva fought back from a set and a break down against Beatriz Haddad Maia, later celebrating passionately in front of vocal Brazilian supporters.
Miomir Kecmanović, who lost the tournament’s first five-set match to Tomás Martín Etcheverry, revealed after the match that he is still grieving the loss of his grandmother, who passed away on Christmas Day.
Perhaps the most touching moment came from Zeynep Sönmez, who helped a ball girl who collapsed during her match with Alexandrova, guiding her to shade and assisting with cooling efforts.
Breakthrough Performance: Michael Zheng
Michael Zheng, a 21-year-old American college student, produced one of the day’s biggest surprises. After qualifying for his first ATP-level main draw, he defeated former top-15 player Sebastian Korda in five sets: 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(0), 6–3.
Venus Williams Sets a New Record
At 45 years and 215 days, Venus Williams became the oldest singles competitor in Australian Open history during the Open Era. When Venus first played a professional tour match, 112 players in the 2026 Australian Open women’s draw had not yet been born.
She came close to advancing, leading 4–0 in the final set against Olga Danilovic, before ultimately losing 7–6(5), 3–6, 4–6.
Elsewhere in the Tennis World
While action unfolds in Melbourne, 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu is competing at an ITF tournament in Florida, where she has reached the final.
For the complete Australian Open schedule, daily order of play, and the latest match results, visit our full Australian Open schedule and results page.
