Australian Open day one AS IT HAPPENED: Carlos Alcaraz dismantles gritty local hope; Aryna Sabalenka victorious after early scare; Venus Williams falls just short
Updated . First published
Day 1 key matches (AEDT)
Men's singles
- Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) def. by Corentin Moutet (FRA) 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-3
- Alexander Zverev (GER) def. Gabriel Diallo (CAN) 7-6(1), 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
- Francis Tiafoe (FRA) def. Jason Kubler (AUS) 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2
- Alexander Bublik (KAZ) def. Jenson Brooksby (USA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
- Carlos Alcaraz (SPA) def. Adam Walton (AUS) 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-2
Women's singles
- Talia Gibson (AUS) def. Anna Blinkova (RUS) 6-1, 6-3
- Jasmine Paolini (ITA) def. Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-1, 6-2
- Venus Williams (USA) def. by Olga Danilović (SER) 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
- Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) def. Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah (FRA) 6-4, 6-1
- Emma Raducanu (UK) def. Mananchaya Sawangkaew (THA) 6-4, 6-1
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Goodnight
We'll leave it there tonight, folks.
Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Emma Raducanu were among the high-profile winners on day one.
Four seeds were bundled out: Ekaterina Alexandrova, Dayana Yastremska, Marta Kostyuk and Flavio Cobolli.
Among the big names set to begin their campaigns tomorrow are Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Daniil Medvedev and local hope Alex de Minaur.
We will be back in the morning to live blog day two of the Melbourne major.
Goodnight.
Carlitos moves through
Carlos Alcaraz gets it done, moving one step closer to an elusive Australian Open title with a clinical 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-2 victory over Aussie Adam Walton.
While Walton pushed him at points, especially in the second set, Alcaraz's trademark power proved too much in the end, wrapping up the win in two hours and five minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates a hard-fought opening win over local hope Adam Walton at the 2026 Australian Open. Clive Brunskill via Getty Images
Alcaraz closing in
Carlos Alcaraz has secured the crucial break in the third set and consolidated to lead 5-2.
After a gritty second-set battle, the world No.1 has found his rhythm and is now just one game away from a straight-sets victory over local hope Adam Walton.
"He has pulled away now," Jim Courier said in commentary for Nine.
Raducanu seals second-round spot
Emma Raducanu has raced through her second set.
The 28th seed turned up the heat on Margaret Court Arena to dismantle Thai debutant Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1.
The Brit looked sharp and clinical, wrapping up the victory in just one hour and 11 minutes.
World No.702 stuns in three-set thriller
Upset on Kia Arena!
Chinese qualifier Wei Sijia has sent shockwaves through the draw, upsetting Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Despite Wei's ranking of No.702, she showed composure beyond her years to close it out on her second match point.
Wei will now face top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in a blockbuster second-round clash.
Raducanu surging
Emma Radacanu has hit her stride on Margaret Court Arena, leading Thai debutant Mananchaya Sawangkaew by a set and a break.
After a tight 6-4 opener, the Brit has found another gear and is closing in on a spot in the second round.
Alcaraz clinical in tiebreak
It took an hour, but Carlos Alcaraz has claimed the second set 7-6(2).
While Adam Walton fought valiantly to stay in the contest, the world No 1 showed his class in the tiebreak, finding an extra gear just as the Aussie's resistance began to flicker and a few double faults crept in.
Alcaraz leads two-sets-to-love.
Walton pushes Alcaraz to tiebreak
Tiebreak time!
Carlos Alcaraz and Adam Walton are locked at 6-6 in the second set.
The Aussie has gone toe-to-toe with the world No.1, and we're headed for a shootout to see if Walton can level the match. Let's go!
Norrie survives five-set epic
Over on 1573 Arena, Cameron Norrie has just completed a gritty five-set marathon, outlasting Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 6-4 in the decider.
The No.26 seed prevails 6-0, 6-7(2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in three hours and 39 minutes.
It makes it two-from-two for Great Britain today after Arthur Fery's earlier upset.
Venus fades, loses to Danilović
Well, for much of that match the great Venus Williams was defying her age.
The 45-year-old American icon grabbed the first set in a tiebreak against Olga Danilović, and while she then dropped the second 6-3, she rocketed out to a 4-0 lead in the third and deciding set.
But she then lost her touch and, seemingly, her 45-year-old legs began to fatigue, Danilović stringing together six unanswered games to claim the match.
There were some shots Williams simply didn't have the gas to run for.
Will Venus return for another Australian Open?
