Australian Open 2026, Day 1: Alcaraz, Sabalenka Lead Opening Day Action
The 2026 Australian Open gets underway in Melbourne on Sunday, with top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka headlining the opening day of action. Fans can also look forward to historic appearances and exciting early-round clashes across multiple courts.
Star Attractions on Day 1
Aryna Sabalenka (WTA World No. 1 and reigning two-time champion) opens her campaign against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Sabalenka is already eyeing a clash with rival Iga Swiatek, but she acknowledges the depth of competition in the women’s draw, including Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula.
Carlos Alcaraz (ATP World No. 1 and top seed) begins his quest for a first Australian Open title—and a Career Grand Slam—against Australian hopeful Adam Walton. “I’m hungry for the title,” said Alcaraz ahead of his first-round match.
Venus Williams will make history as the oldest woman to compete in a Grand Slam singles main draw at 45, facing Serbia’s Olga Danilovic after receiving a wildcard entry.
Other notable first-round matches include Alexander Zverev vs Gabriel Diallo and Emma Raducanu vs Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
Full Day 1 Schedule (IST)
Rod Laver Arena
[Q] Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs [7] Jasmine Paolini – 6:00 a.m.
[3] Alexander Zverev vs Gabriel Diallo – Following match
[1] Aryna Sabalenka vs [WC] Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah – 1:30 p.m.
[1] Carlos Alcaraz vs Adam Walton – Following match
Margaret Court Arena
Maria Sakkari vs Leolia Jeanjean – 6:00 a.m.
[18] Francisco Cerundolo vs Zhizhen Zhang
[10] Alexander Bublik vs Jenson Brooksby – 1:30 p.m.
Mananchaya Sawangkaew vs [28] Emma Raducanu
John Cain Arena
[Q] Arthur Fery vs [20] Flavio Cobolli – 5:30 a.m.
[12] Elina Svitolina vs Cristina Bucsa – Not before 8:00 a.m.
[29] Frances Tiafoe vs [Q] Jason Kubler – 11:30 a.m.
Olga Danilovic vs [WC] Venus Williams
Kia Arena
[WC] Talia Gibson vs Anna Blinkova – 5:30 a.m.
Tristan Schoolkate vs [32] Corentin Moutet
[Q] Michael Zheng vs Sebastian Korda – Not before 10:00 a.m.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs [Q] Zhuoxuan Bai
1573 Arena
Miomir Kecmanovic vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry – 5:30 a.m.
[11] Ekaterina Alexandrova vs [Q] Zeynep Sonmez
Benjamin Bonzi vs [26] Cameron Norrie
ANZ Arena
[26] Dayana Yastremska vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse – 5:30 a.m.
Elsa Jacquemot vs [20] Marta Kostyuk
Camilo Ugo Carabelli vs Marton Fucsovics
Suzan Lamens vs Anastasia Potapova
Court 6
Yulia Putintseva vs Beatriz Haddad Maia – 5:30 a.m.
Emilio Nava vs [WC] Kyrian Jacquet
Yannick Hanfmann vs [Q] Zachary Svajda
Court 7
[WC] Patrick Kypson vs Francisco Comesana – 8:30 a.m.
Polina Kudermetova vs [Q] Guiomar Maristany Zuleta De Reales
Court 8
Caty McNally vs [Q] Himeno Sakatsume – 7:30 a.m.
[Q] Liam Draxl vs Damir Dzumhur
Court 13
Hailey Baptiste vs [32] Marketa Vondrousova – 8:30 a.m.
[LL] Alexander Blockx vs [Q] Jamie Faria
With top seeds on show and historic milestones like Venus Williams’ record attempt, Day 1 promises plenty of early drama in Melbourne.
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