Australian Open day three AS IT HAPPENED: Maddison Inglis wipes away tears after outlasting best friend in three-hour epic
Updated . First published
Day three key matches
Men's singles
- Jannik Sinner (ITA) def. Hugo Gaston (FRA) 6-2, 6-1 (ret.)
- Nishesh Basavareddy (USA) def. Chris O'Connell (AUS) 4-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3
- Ben Shelton (USA) def. Ugo Humbert (FRA) 6-3, 7-6, 7-6
Women's singles
- Naomi Osaka (JAP) def. Antonia Ruzic (CRO) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
- Madison Keys (USA) def. Oleksandra Oliynykova (UKR) 7-6, 6-1
- Tereza Valentova (CZE) def. Maya Joint (AUS) 6-4, 6-4
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Goodbye
That concludes Wide World of Sports' LIVE coverage of day three of the Australian Open.
It was a day of grit, high-stakes drama and emotional milestones — from career-best wins to heartbreaking retirements.
Join us on Thursday for what promises to be an absolute thriller on day four!
Emotional Inglis overcomes best friend Birrell
An emotional Madison Inglis has wiped away tears after defeating close friend Kimberly Birrell in a three-set thriller.
The pair, who have been best friends since they were children, shared a long embrace at the net.
After taking a moment to compose herself, Inglish admitted that the win feels amazing but comes at the difficult expense of a friend.
"It's really hard to play such a good friend, you know," she said during her on-court interview.
"The last few days have been a bit stressful.
"It's so tough. It was an amazing match with Kim.
"I absolutely adore her, so it was really hard to see her on the other side, but I'm stoked that I could play through those feelings and be in the second round.
"It means the world."
Maddison Inglis overcomes both a three-hour marathon and the heartbreak of facing her best friend to secure a career-defining win over Kimberly Birrell. Nine
Inglis reflected on the mental battle of the three-hour marathon.
"She's honestly the queen of comebacks, so I knew I was gonna have to win it, and I couldn't get it done in the second," she said of Birrell's reputation for never giving up.
"I really did my best to just put it behind me and just remember that I was playing some really great tennis, and that I just had to trust myself and know that I can do it.
"I got a bit lucky, it went my way today, and I'm really happy."
Round one concludes in Melbourne
That's a wrap on the action for day three... or perhaps more accurately, early day four!
With the final points played, the opening round of the 2026 Australian Open is officially in the books.
From the 256 players who started across the singles draws, just 128 remain — 11 of whom carry the hopes of the home nation.
Australia heads into the second round with a formidable contingent of six women and five men.
Inglis outlasts Birrell
Maddison Inglis has emerged victorious over countrywoman and close friend Kimberly Birrell in a late-night thriller.
The qualifier secured a 7-6(8), 6-6(11), 6-4 win in a gruelling three-hour battle.
As the final point was called, Inglis dropped her racket and crouched on the court, overcome with relief after securing her place in the second round.
Finish line in sight for Inglis
Maddison Inglis has secured a late break of serve and will now serve for the match.
With her back against the wall, what can Kimberly Birrell produce in response?
Osaka stuns with 'unexpected' Aus Open fashion choice
Naomi Osaka turned heads at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday afternoon, stepping out for her opening match against Antonia Ruzic in a bold statement look.
The former world No.1 paired a statement white hat — complete with a face-concealing veil — with a matching umbrella.
After the dramatic entrance, Osaka survived a major scare on court, battling for two hours and 22 minutes to defeat Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Birrell forces third set
We're heading to a third set!
Kimberly Birrell storms back from 5-2 down in the second set and takes out the tiebreak 11-9 over fellow Aussie star Maddison Inglis.
Birrell did suffer a wrist injury after taking a nasty fall and stared down the barrel of multiple match points, but regained her composure to force it to a decider.
"What an astonishing fightback," Lou Pleming said on Nine.
Kimberly Birrell suffers an injury. Nine
Czech teen stuns Kasatkina
Australian Daria Kasatkina has been upset by Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova in two hours.
In her grand slam main-draw debut, the 19-year-old Bartunkova secured a gritty 7-6(9), 0-6, 6-3 victory.
While Kasatkina dominated the second set to force a decider, she was unable to sustain that momentum in the final set.
A visibly dejected Kasatkina made a swift exit from Kia Arena following the defeat.
Osaka through to second round
Naomi Osaka finds a way!
The Japanese star survives a major scare to defeat Antonia Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in a gruelling two hours and 22 minutes.
Despite trailing by a break in the deciding set, Osaka showed the composure of a champion to fight back and secure her place in the second round.
Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates her match-point victory over Croatia's Antonia Ruzic during the first round of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Phil Walter via Getty Images
Birrell finds another level
Just when it looked like she was heading for a straight-sets loss and first-round exit, Kimberly Birrell has clawed back against Maddison Inglis.
"This has been a really gritty performance ... she is not going to give up without a fight," Lou Pleming said on commentary.
"Birrell is finding another level."
It's heading to a tiebreak on John Cain Arena between the two Aussies.
Kimberly Birrell. Getty
