Novak Djokovic heads into the Australian Open 2026 with several historic milestones in sight. A strong run in Melbourne could further elevate his legacy and add more unforgettable chapters to his legendary career.

Novak Djokovic heads into the Australian Open 2026 with several historic milestones in sight. A strong run in Melbourne could further elevate his legacy and add more unforgettable chapters to his legendary career.

5 records Novak Djokovic can break at 2026 Australian Open

World number two Iga Swiatek survived an exit scare on day two of the 2026 Australian Open after beating Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue to launch her bid for a career Grand Slam. During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later. The Polish superstar will next face the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova. Although this win was a welcome boost for Swiatek, who lost her last two singles matches at the lead-up United Cup, recording 35 unforced errors comes as a worrying sign against a player who had only made it past the first round once in 13 previous Grand Slam appearances.&nbsp;"I was a bit rusty at the beginning, I didn't really start well, and she used the opportunity," she said. "But I knew if I could put the hard work in, I would play better. So that's what I tried to do from the middle of the first set.&nbsp;"I'm happy that it worked. For sure, many ups and downs, I have some stuff to work on, so I'll just focus on that."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dark-horse-of-australian-open-2026-daniil-medvedev-beats-de-jong-in-straight-sets-and-fires-early-warning-to-alcaraz-and-sinner-1768818809678">Dark horse of Australian Open 2026: Daniil Medvedev fires early warning to Alcaraz and Sinner</a>&nbsp;Swiatek has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park has proved elusive. The 24-year-old has made the semi-finals twice but has never gone further. Should she finally win the title and complete the career Grand Slam, she would be only the seventh woman in the Open era to do so and the third youngest after Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.<h3>‘Unfazed Yuan pushed Swiatek to limits’</h3>Yuan, ranked 130, was unfazed by facing a player of her stature and came out with all guns blazing. She broke a shaky Swiatek's first service game and consolidated with a hold.&nbsp;Swiatek had to fend off a break point on her next serve before she settled and got on the board. With her radar seemingly starting to function, she broke to level the set at 3-3, but Yuan again pounced to break back.&nbsp;Swiatek finally came good when Yuan served for the set, with her powerful groundstrokes too much for the Chinese player.&nbsp;It headed for a tiebreak where Swiatek again had to fight hard before getting over the line, with 21 unforced errors in the set.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Simply superb, Swiatek 😍 7-6 (5), 6-3, and Iga is through to the second round!<a href="https://twitter.com/wwos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wwos</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntsports</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/wowowtennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wowowtennis</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO26</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ej6l2GjNPK">pic.twitter.com/Ej6l2GjNPK</a>&mdash; #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/2013194638929080636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

She raced 3-0 clear in the second set, and when Yuan had a medical timeout for a lower back issue, it appeared to be all over. But the plucky 27-year-old won the next two games to stay alive before running out of steam.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later.

World number two Iga Swiatek survived an exit scare on day two of the 2026 Australian Open after beating Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue to launch her bid for a career Grand Slam. During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later. The Polish superstar will next face the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova. Although this win was a welcome boost for Swiatek, who lost her last two singles matches at the lead-up United Cup, recording 35 unforced errors comes as a worrying sign against a player who had only made it past the first round once in 13 previous Grand Slam appearances. "I was a bit rusty at the beginning, I didn't really start well, and she used the opportunity," she said. "But I knew if I could put the hard work in, I would play better. So that's what I tried to do from the middle of the first set. "I'm happy that it worked. For sure, many ups and downs, I have some stuff to work on, so I'll just focus on that." Also read | Dark horse of Australian Open 2026: Daniil Medvedev fires early warning to Alcaraz and Sinner Swiatek has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park has proved elusive. The 24-year-old has made the semi-finals twice but has never gone further. Should she finally win the title and complete the career Grand Slam, she would be only the seventh woman in the Open era to do so and the third youngest after Steffi Graf and Serena Williams. ‘Unfazed Yuan pushed Swiatek to limits’ Yuan, ranked 130, was unfazed by facing a player of her stature and came out with all guns blazing. She broke a shaky Swiatek's first service game and consolidated with a hold. Swiatek had to fend off a break point on her next serve before she settled and got on the board. With her radar seemingly starting to function, she broke to level the set at 3-3, but Yuan again pounced to break back. Swiatek finally came good when Yuan served for the set, with her powerful groundstrokes too much for the Chinese player. It headed for a tiebreak where Swiatek again had to fight hard before getting over the line, with 21 unforced errors in the set.

During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later.

Australian Open 2026: Iga Swiatek survives exit scare to punch second-round ticket

Australian Open 2026 has begun and Russian Daniil Medvedev could be the drak horse in men's singles to challenge a fourth consecutive Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner grand slam final. Medvedev started off his campaign with a straight-set win on Monday (Jan 19) at Margarte Court arena in Melbourne. He beat Jesper de Jong 7-5 6-2 7-6(2) for the first win in a major in over an year. Medvedev was aggressive in his play and used the courth depth effectively to send off an early warning to Alcaraz as well as defending champion Sinner.<h2>Medvedev could be dark horse at Australian Open 2026</h2>The Russian, seeded number 11, played the best shot of the night to win the match - a forehand from the deep end of the court. Speaking after the match, he said: "When I play good, I am aggressive. When I play bad, my ball is not going through the air, so I become a bit more defensive."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/steve-smith-dreams-of-olympic-debut-booed-by-gabba-crowd-in-bbl-15-dropped-from-australia-t20-wc-squad-1768813223781">Steve Smith dreams of Olympic debut amid rejections and booing</a>"(De Jong) was also far behind the baseline, and there were many times I managed to move him around … in some moments, I could have been a bit more clinical, but in the first round, it’s never easy. Hopefully, I can be a bit more clinical in the next round," he added after finishing the match in 2 hours 43 minutes.<h2>Medvedev vs De Jong Match Summary</h2>In the match, Medvedev hit 9 aces compared to his competitor's three. Medvedev also mae five double faults while De Jong only made one. As for break points won, Medvedev won 7/13 while his opposite number won 4/10 - highlighting the difference between the result for the players. Overall, the Russian won 125 points and 20 games while De Jong managed 103 points and jusr 13 games. The Russian, who had lost in the second round of Australian Open 2025 before being a finalist in 2021, 2022, 2024, will now face France's Quentin Halys in the second round on Wednesday (Jan 21) with time still to be decided.

Medvedev, during his straight-set 7-5 6-2 7-6(2) win over Jesper de Jong, was aggressive in his play and used the courth depth effectively to send off an early warning to Alcaraz as well as defending champion Sinner.

Australian Open 2026 has begun and Russian Daniil Medvedev could be the drak horse in men's singles to challenge a fourth consecutive Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner grand slam final. Medvedev started off his campaign with a straight-set win on Monday (Jan 19) at Margarte Court arena in Melbourne. He beat Jesper de Jong 7-5 6-2 7-6(2) for the first win in a major in over an year. Medvedev was aggressive in his play and used the courth depth effectively to send off an early warning to Alcaraz as well as defending champion Sinner. Medvedev could be dark horse at Australian Open 2026 The Russian, seeded number 11, played the best shot of the night to win the match - a forehand from the deep end of the court. Speaking after the match, he said: "When I play good, I am aggressive. When I play bad, my ball is not going through the air, so I become a bit more defensive." Also Read - Steve Smith dreams of Olympic debut amid rejections and booing "(De Jong) was also far behind the baseline, and there were many times I managed to move him around … in some moments, I could have been a bit more clinical, but in the first round, it’s never easy. Hopefully, I can be a bit more clinical in the next round," he added after finishing the match in 2 hours 43 minutes. Medvedev vs De Jong Match Summary In the match, Medvedev hit 9 aces compared to his competitor's three. Medvedev also mae five double faults while De Jong only made one. As for break points won, Medvedev won 7/13 while his opposite number won 4/10 - highlighting the difference between the result for the players. Overall, the Russian won 125 points and 20 games while De Jong managed 103 points and jusr 13 games. The Russian, who had lost in the second round of Australian Open 2025 before being a finalist in 2021, 2022, 2024, will now face France's Quentin Halys in the second round on Wednesday (Jan 21) with time still to be decided.

Medvedev, during his straight-set 7-5 6-2 7-6(2) win over Jesper de Jong, was aggressive in his play and used the courth depth effectively to send off an early warning to Alcaraz as well as defending champion Sinner.

Dark horse of Australian Open 2026: Daniil Medvedev fires early warning to Alcaraz and Sinner

USA’s Coco Gauff began her Australian Open 2026 title bid with a straight-set win on Monday after overcoming some early serving wobbles. The two-time major winner edged past Russia-born Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan 6-2, 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, with the sun beating down hard. Gauff will next face Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in the second round, who beat veteran Venus Williams in her tournament opener.&nbsp;"I tried not to put too much pressure on myself," Gauff said of her mindset heading into the first round. "I want to win this tournament. I am only satisfied if I win, but I am proud of myself regardless of how I get on."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-2026-day-1-alcaraz-and-sabalenka-shine-as-venus-williams-makes-emotional-exit-in-melbourne-1768730411900">Australian Open 2026, Day 1: Alcaraz and Sabalenka shine as Venus Williams makes emotional exit in Melbourne</a>&nbsp;Gauff admitted that her return of serve had been a potent weapon against the world number 93.&nbsp;WATCH VIDEO -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">That finish though... Coco Gauff showing she’s well and truly on today. She breaks Rakhimova again to lead 4-1 in the first set.<a href="https://twitter.com/wwos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wwos</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntsports</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/wowowtennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wowowtennis</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO26</a> <a href="https://t.co/71moHcJOUM">pic.twitter.com/71moHcJOUM</a>&mdash; #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/2013065127608635829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;"It's the great thing of being a good returner, you have a good chance of breaking in every game," she said.&nbsp;Gauff, whose best performance in Melbourne is a semi-final in 2024, showed glimpses of frustration as she coughed up six double faults in the first set and made 19 unforced errors. That included three double faults in her first service game, although she dug herself out of the hole to hold.&nbsp;On the eve of the tournament Gauff said that she has "good days and really bad days" with her serve.&nbsp;Gauff belatedly found her groove, sending down an ace to seal the first set in style. She appeared to have found some badly needed consistency in the second set and cut down on the number of mistakes. But Gauff erred again when serving for the match at 5-2, allowing Rakhimova to claw back a break.&nbsp;Gauff reset and immediately broke back to complete victory in one hour and 39 minutes.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

The two-time major winner edged past Russia-born Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan 6-2, 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, with the sun beating down hard.

USA’s Coco Gauff began her Australian Open 2026 title bid with a straight-set win on Monday after overcoming some early serving wobbles. The two-time major winner edged past Russia-born Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan 6-2, 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, with the sun beating down hard. Gauff will next face Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in the second round, who beat veteran Venus Williams in her tournament opener. "I tried not to put too much pressure on myself," Gauff said of her mindset heading into the first round. "I want to win this tournament. I am only satisfied if I win, but I am proud of myself regardless of how I get on." Also read | Australian Open 2026, Day 1: Alcaraz and Sabalenka shine as Venus Williams makes emotional exit in Melbourne Gauff admitted that her return of serve had been a potent weapon against the world number 93. WATCH VIDEO -

The two-time major winner edged past Russia-born Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan 6-2, 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, with the sun beating down hard.

Australian Open 2026, Day 2: USA’s Coco Gauff begins title quest with straight-set win

The 2026 tennis season kicked off with the Australian Open, bringing excitement, heat, and big names to Melbourne on day 1 (Jan 18). Fans filled the stadiums despite hot conditions, and the opening matches delivered drama, intensity, and strong performances from the top players. World number one Carlos Alcaraz and women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka both started their title campaigns with straight-sets wins, while several others battled through tough first-round tests. The day also saw emotional moments, history being made, and a touching farewell for tennis legend Venus Williams, who returned to Melbourne.&nbsp;Carlos Alcaraz began his journey to complete a career Grand Slam with a confident win over Australian wildcard Adam Walton. The Spaniard won 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 in a match that tested his patience, especially in the second set. Playing his first competitive match in nine weeks, Alcaraz looked sharp and focused, using his speed, power, and control to dominate key moments. He said tough first-round matches help him find rhythm early in a tournament. The 22-year-old now moves on with confidence as he continues his chase for his maiden Melbourne title.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-carlos-alcaraz-can-break-47-year-old-record-of-this-tennis-stalwart-in-australian-open-1768660890601">How Carlos Alcaraz can break 47-year-old record of THIS tennis stalwart in Australian Open</a>&nbsp;Aryna Sabalenka had a slow start but quickly found her rhythm to win her opening match 6-4, 6-1 against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. The Belarusian made a few errors early but soon showed her class with powerful shots and calm movement. She admitted feeling extra pressure with legends watching from the stands, yet handled it well. Sabalenka now looks ready to chase her third Australian Open title in four years with strong belief and hunger.&nbsp;Venus Williams created history by becoming the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open, but her fairytale ended in the first round. The 45-year-old fought bravely against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in a thrilling match that lasted over two hours. Venus won the first set but eventually lost 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. She showed flashes of her greatness, powerful serves, and fighting spirit. The crowd gave her a warm reception, celebrating her legacy and impact on tennis.

Day 1 of the Australian Open 2026 delivered big wins for Alcaraz and Sabalenka and an emotional farewell for Venus Williams as the season began with drama, heat, and historic moments in Melbourne. 

The 2026 tennis season kicked off with the Australian Open, bringing excitement, heat, and big names to Melbourne on day 1 (Jan 18). Fans filled the stadiums despite hot conditions, and the opening matches delivered drama, intensity, and strong performances from the top players. World number one Carlos Alcaraz and women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka both started their title campaigns with straight-sets wins, while several others battled through tough first-round tests. The day also saw emotional moments, history being made, and a touching farewell for tennis legend Venus Williams, who returned to Melbourne. Carlos Alcaraz began his journey to complete a career Grand Slam with a confident win over Australian wildcard Adam Walton. The Spaniard won 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 in a match that tested his patience, especially in the second set. Playing his first competitive match in nine weeks, Alcaraz looked sharp and focused, using his speed, power, and control to dominate key moments. He said tough first-round matches help him find rhythm early in a tournament. The 22-year-old now moves on with confidence as he continues his chase for his maiden Melbourne title. Also read | How Carlos Alcaraz can break 47-year-old record of THIS tennis stalwart in Australian Open Aryna Sabalenka had a slow start but quickly found her rhythm to win her opening match 6-4, 6-1 against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. The Belarusian made a few errors early but soon showed her class with powerful shots and calm movement. She admitted feeling extra pressure with legends watching from the stands, yet handled it well. Sabalenka now looks ready to chase her third Australian Open title in four years with strong belief and hunger. Venus Williams created history by becoming the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open, but her fairytale ended in the first round. The 45-year-old fought bravely against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in a thrilling match that lasted over two hours. Venus won the first set but eventually lost 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. She showed flashes of her greatness, powerful serves, and fighting spirit. The crowd gave her a warm reception, celebrating her legacy and impact on tennis.

Day 1 of the Australian Open 2026 delivered big wins for Alcaraz and Sabalenka and an emotional farewell for Venus Williams as the season began with drama, heat, and historic moments in Melbourne.&nbsp;

Australian Open 2026, Day 1:  Alcaraz and Sabalenka shine as Venus Williams makes emotional exit in Melbourne

Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez earned praise from fans at the Australian Open 2026 for her heartfelt gesture on the court. She was playing 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on Sunday (Jan 18), when a ball kid suddenly fainted during the match. Sonmez immediately stopped play and rushed to help, supporting the young girl and guiding her toward the shade. When the ball kid fainted again, Sonmez gently lifted her and helped her to sit on a chair near the side of the court. Medical staff quickly arrived and took over the situation.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-2026-aryna-sabalenka-makes-shaky-start-selfie-with-federer-watch-1768730584118">Australian Open: Sabalenka makes shaky start; manages selfie with RF – WATCH</a><h2>Watch the video</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Respect to Zeynep Sönmez who went to help this ball kid who fainted beside the court ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/iHnX2TDaZ7">pic.twitter.com/iHnX2TDaZ7</a>&mdash; TNT Sports (@tntsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports/status/2012786867993727320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The crowd applauded Sonmez for her calm and thoughtful actions. The players waited for the ball kid and medical staff to leave the arena before resuming the match after a delay of around seven minutes.&nbsp;When the match resumed, Sonmez went on to lose the second set but she was able to secure a 7-5 4-6 6-4 win and become the first woman from Turkey to reach the second round of the Melbourne Park Grand Slam.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-got-the-benefit-of-being-an-all-rounder-ayush-badoni-on-maiden-india-call-up-1768717890955">'Got the benefit of being an all-rounder': Ayush Badoni on maiden India call-up</a>&nbsp;Her performance in Melbourne comes after a strong 2025 season, during which she reached the third round at Wimbledon, the best Grand Slam result by a Turkish woman and advanced to the second round of the US Open.&nbsp;&nbsp;Playing in difficult heat and under pressure, Sonmez handled everything with calmness and walked off the court with a win and a moment that may be remembered as much as the result itself.

The players waited for the ball kid and medical staff to leave the arena before resuming the match after a delay of around seven minutes.

Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez earned praise from fans at the Australian Open 2026 for her heartfelt gesture on the court. She was playing 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on Sunday (Jan 18), when a ball kid suddenly fainted during the match. Sonmez immediately stopped play and rushed to help, supporting the young girl and guiding her toward the shade. When the ball kid fainted again, Sonmez gently lifted her and helped her to sit on a chair near the side of the court. Medical staff quickly arrived and took over the situation. Also Read - Australian Open: Sabalenka makes shaky start; manages selfie with RF – WATCH Watch the video

The players waited for the ball kid and medical staff to leave the arena before resuming the match after a delay of around seven minutes.

Ball girl collapses at Australian Open 2026; Zeynep Sonmez rushes to help, wins hearts - WATCH

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, made a dull to her Australian Open 2026 campaign, beating French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4, 6-1 on Sunday (Jan 18). Sabalenka, chasing her third Melbourne title in four years, next faces either of Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan.&nbsp;"I did not start my best but she was playing great, it was a tricky start," said Sabalenka, who lost last year's final.&nbsp;The 27-year-old Belarusian, fresh from winning the season-opening Brisbane International, made a sloppy start in losing the first three points of the match when serving. In front of the watching Roger Federer, Sabalenka clawed back to deuce but then misfired again to fall a game down in front of a shocked Rod Laver Arena.&nbsp;Sabalenka, who is favourite to add a fifth Grand Slam title to her career haul, pulled back level but if she expected the spirited world number 118 to melt away, it did not immediately happen. The reigning US Open champion offered an apology to her underdog opponent at 4-4 when she unleashed a forehand into the 20-year-old's head.&nbsp;Sabalenka's error count was rising but she finally broke Rakotomanga Rajaonah's resistance to claim the first set, then eased home in the second.&nbsp;"I was super-happy I found my level," said Sabalenka, who was guilty of 13 unforced errors in the first set. "It is always tricky playing someone young, someone you don't know, and a lefty (left-hander)."&nbsp;Sabalenka said she had felt pressure with Federer and Rod Laver watching court-side.&nbsp;"I hope you guys enjoyed watching me play, I hope you enjoyed it even a little bit," she said in her on-court interview. "Can I take a picture with you, please?"&nbsp;WATCH VIDEO -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">That&#39;s one special picture 📸 We are patiently awaiting the result of this selfie, <a href="https://twitter.com/SabalenkaA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SabalenkaA</a> 🤳 <a href="https://t.co/CXUQi2JgJf">pic.twitter.com/CXUQi2JgJf</a>&mdash; #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/2012826586244841519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">When Sabalenka was starstruck and relatable asking for that 🤳<a href="https://twitter.com/wwos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wwos</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntsports</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/wowowtennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wowowtennis</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO26</a> <a href="https://t.co/84iX3QwDN5">pic.twitter.com/84iX3QwDN5</a>&mdash; #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/2012823624323834167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, Sabalenka was stunned in the Melbourne final by Madison Keys of the United States a year ago.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

The 27-year-old Belarusian, fresh from winning the season-opening Brisbane International, made a sloppy start in losing the first three points of the match when serving.

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, made a dull to her Australian Open 2026 campaign, beating French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4, 6-1 on Sunday (Jan 18). Sabalenka, chasing her third Melbourne title in four years, next faces either of Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan. "I did not start my best but she was playing great, it was a tricky start," said Sabalenka, who lost last year's final. The 27-year-old Belarusian, fresh from winning the season-opening Brisbane International, made a sloppy start in losing the first three points of the match when serving. In front of the watching Roger Federer, Sabalenka clawed back to deuce but then misfired again to fall a game down in front of a shocked Rod Laver Arena. Sabalenka, who is favourite to add a fifth Grand Slam title to her career haul, pulled back level but if she expected the spirited world number 118 to melt away, it did not immediately happen. The reigning US Open champion offered an apology to her underdog opponent at 4-4 when she unleashed a forehand into the 20-year-old's head. Sabalenka's error count was rising but she finally broke Rakotomanga Rajaonah's resistance to claim the first set, then eased home in the second. "I was super-happy I found my level," said Sabalenka, who was guilty of 13 unforced errors in the first set. "It is always tricky playing someone young, someone you don't know, and a lefty (left-hander)." Sabalenka said she had felt pressure with Federer and Rod Laver watching court-side. "I hope you guys enjoyed watching me play, I hope you enjoyed it even a little bit," she said in her on-court interview. "Can I take a picture with you, please?" WATCH VIDEO -

The 27-year-old Belarusian, fresh from winning the season-opening Brisbane International, made a sloppy start in losing the first three points of the match when serving.

World no 1 Sabalenka makes shaky start at Australian Open 2026; manages selfie with Federer – WATCH

World no.1 Carlos Alcaraz arrives at the Australian Open as one of the most consistent players of his generation. Over the last few years, he has built a strong record in Grand Slam tournaments and shown that he can compete at the highest level across all surfaces. Melbourne now gives him another chance to add to that growing list. At just 22, Alcaraz already has six Grand Slam singles titles. That alone places him in rare company.&nbsp;&nbsp;Only a few players in the Open Era have reached that number at such a young age. What makes this Australian Open interesting is that a win here would take him to seven majors, a mark that has carried historical value in men’s tennis for nearly five decades.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="Not Andy Murray, Wilander wants THIS tennis stalwart to coach Carlos AlcarazNot Andy Murray, Wilander wants THIS tennis stalwart to coach Carlos Alcaraz">Not Andy Murray, Wilander wants THIS tennis stalwart to coach Carlos Alcaraz</a>&nbsp;Bjorn Borg was the first player in the Open Era to reach seven Grand Slam titles. He achieved it in 1979 at the French Open, when he was 23 years and four days old. Since then, many legends have crossed the same milestone, but none have done it at a younger age. That is why Alcaraz’s timing matters.&nbsp;The Australian Open final is scheduled for February 1, when Alcaraz will be 22 years, eight months, and 27 days old. If he wins the title, he will become the youngest man in history to reach seven Grand Slam singles trophies, moving ahead of Borg’s long-standing record. It is a small detail on paper, but one that carries weight in tennis history.&nbsp;Rafael Nadal came close to breaking that mark in 2010 when he won his seventh Grand Slam at the French Open, but he was already 24. Other greats like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras, and John McEnroe reached seven majors later in their careers. Borg’s record has survived mainly because very few players win so many titles so early.&nbsp;There is also a longer view. If Alcaraz manages to win both the Australian Open and the French Open this year, he would have eight Grand Slam titles by the age of 23 years, one month, and two days. That would place him just one day behind Borg, who reached eight majors at 23 years, one month, and one day in 1979.&nbsp;Above all, Alcaraz also has a golden chance to complete his career grand with the victory in Melbourne only remaining from his trophy cabinet.

Carlos Alcaraz enters the Australian Open with a chance to add another Grand Slam to his career and move closer to a long-standing tennis record, as he continues to build one of the strongest starts in modern men’s tennis.

World no.1 Carlos Alcaraz arrives at the Australian Open as one of the most consistent players of his generation. Over the last few years, he has built a strong record in Grand Slam tournaments and shown that he can compete at the highest level across all surfaces. Melbourne now gives him another chance to add to that growing list. At just 22, Alcaraz already has six Grand Slam singles titles. That alone places him in rare company. Only a few players in the Open Era have reached that number at such a young age. What makes this Australian Open interesting is that a win here would take him to seven majors, a mark that has carried historical value in men’s tennis for nearly five decades. Also read | Not Andy Murray, Wilander wants THIS tennis stalwart to coach Carlos Alcaraz Bjorn Borg was the first player in the Open Era to reach seven Grand Slam titles. He achieved it in 1979 at the French Open, when he was 23 years and four days old. Since then, many legends have crossed the same milestone, but none have done it at a younger age. That is why Alcaraz’s timing matters. The Australian Open final is scheduled for February 1, when Alcaraz will be 22 years, eight months, and 27 days old. If he wins the title, he will become the youngest man in history to reach seven Grand Slam singles trophies, moving ahead of Borg’s long-standing record. It is a small detail on paper, but one that carries weight in tennis history. Rafael Nadal came close to breaking that mark in 2010 when he won his seventh Grand Slam at the French Open, but he was already 24. Other greats like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras, and John McEnroe reached seven majors later in their careers. Borg’s record has survived mainly because very few players win so many titles so early. There is also a longer view. If Alcaraz manages to win both the Australian Open and the French Open this year, he would have eight Grand Slam titles by the age of 23 years, one month, and two days. That would place him just one day behind Borg, who reached eight majors at 23 years, one month, and one day in 1979. Above all, Alcaraz also has a golden chance to complete his career grand with the victory in Melbourne only remaining from his trophy cabinet.

Carlos Alcaraz enters the Australian Open with a chance to add another Grand Slam to his career and move closer to a long-standing tennis record, as he continues to build one of the strongest starts in modern men’s tennis.

How Carlos Alcaraz can break 47-year-old record of THIS tennis stalwart in Australian Open

Novak Djokovic walked into the Australian Open 2026 with the same calm confidence that has defined most of his career. At 38, when questions about retirement follow him everywhere, the Serbian legend made one thing clear. He is not here for a farewell tour. He is here to compete, and he believes he can still win the biggest titles in tennis. Djokovic dismissed all talk around stepping away from the sport and said his hunger remains as strong as ever.&nbsp;&nbsp;With 24 Grand Slam titles already to his name, he is now chasing history once again. One more major victory would take him past Margaret Court and give him the record of 25 Grand Slam titles. For a player who has broken almost every major record in tennis, that milestone still means something special.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-batters-fastest-to-22-000-international-runs-1768559208064">5 batters fastest to 22,000 international runs</a>&nbsp;The former world No.1 admitted that the last two years have not been easy. Injuries have slowed him down and his results at the biggest events have been mixed. In 2025, he reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams but could not go beyond that stage. Players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have stood in his way, showing a level that many believe is the future of men’s tennis.&nbsp;Still, Djokovic is not ready to step aside. He said tennis continues to give him an adrenaline rush that keeps him motivated. The energy of walking onto the court, the connection with fans, and the love for the game are what push him forward. For him, achievements matter, but passion matters even more.&nbsp;Djokovic was honest in admitting that Sinner and Alcaraz are currently playing at a level above most of the field. But he also reminded everyone of what he is capable of when fully fit. He pointed to his win over Alcaraz in the quarter-finals last year as proof that he can still beat the best on his day.&nbsp;“When I am healthy and everything comes together, I feel I can beat anyone,” Djokovic said. He added that without self-belief, it would be impossible for him to continue competing at the highest level. That belief, according to him, is still very much alive.&nbsp;The Serbian star also ruled out any plans for a retirement tour. He said he does not want attention on his exit when he is still ranked world No.4 and fighting with the top players in the game. Retirement, he said, will be discussed only when he truly feels the time is right.&nbsp;Djokovic will begin his Australian Open 2026 campaign against Pedro Martinez on Monday, January 19. As always, expectations will be high. But for Djokovic, it is simple. He is still in love with the fight, still chasing greatness, and still backing himself to lift one more trophy on the biggest stage.

Novak Djokovic shuts down retirement talk ahead of Australian Open 2026, backs himself for a record 25th Grand Slam, says he can beat anyone when fit and begins his campaign against Pedro Martinez.

Novak Djokovic walked into the Australian Open 2026 with the same calm confidence that has defined most of his career. At 38, when questions about retirement follow him everywhere, the Serbian legend made one thing clear. He is not here for a farewell tour. He is here to compete, and he believes he can still win the biggest titles in tennis. Djokovic dismissed all talk around stepping away from the sport and said his hunger remains as strong as ever. With 24 Grand Slam titles already to his name, he is now chasing history once again. One more major victory would take him past Margaret Court and give him the record of 25 Grand Slam titles. For a player who has broken almost every major record in tennis, that milestone still means something special. Also read | 5 batters fastest to 22,000 international runs The former world No.1 admitted that the last two years have not been easy. Injuries have slowed him down and his results at the biggest events have been mixed. In 2025, he reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams but could not go beyond that stage. Players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have stood in his way, showing a level that many believe is the future of men’s tennis. Still, Djokovic is not ready to step aside. He said tennis continues to give him an adrenaline rush that keeps him motivated. The energy of walking onto the court, the connection with fans, and the love for the game are what push him forward. For him, achievements matter, but passion matters even more. Djokovic was honest in admitting that Sinner and Alcaraz are currently playing at a level above most of the field. But he also reminded everyone of what he is capable of when fully fit. He pointed to his win over Alcaraz in the quarter-finals last year as proof that he can still beat the best on his day. “When I am healthy and everything comes together, I feel I can beat anyone,” Djokovic said. He added that without self-belief, it would be impossible for him to continue competing at the highest level. That belief, according to him, is still very much alive. The Serbian star also ruled out any plans for a retirement tour. He said he does not want attention on his exit when he is still ranked world No.4 and fighting with the top players in the game. Retirement, he said, will be discussed only when he truly feels the time is right. Djokovic will begin his Australian Open 2026 campaign against Pedro Martinez on Monday, January 19. As always, expectations will be high. But for Djokovic, it is simple. He is still in love with the fight, still chasing greatness, and still backing himself to lift one more trophy on the biggest stage.

Novak Djokovic shuts down retirement talk ahead of Australian Open 2026, backs himself for a record 25th Grand Slam, says he can beat anyone when fit and begins his campaign against Pedro Martinez.

'I can beat anyone:' Novak Djokovic confident ahead of Australian Open 2026 title push

Coco Gauff said that a record prize pool at the Australian Open starting on Sunday was "progress" but "still not where we'd like it". The leading players in men's and women's tennis joined forces last year seeking from the four majors a higher percentage of tournament revenue and contributions towards welfare programmes such as pensions. They also want to be consulted when any of the Grand Slams consider making changes that could directly affect them.The Australian Open pledged a 16 percent increase in the total prize purse to Aus$111.5 million (US$75 million) this year.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/breaking-an-olympics-event-undisputed-championship-india-qualifier-to-be-held-in-new-delhi-on-jan-31-1768569887347">Breaking Undisputed Championship India qualifier in New Delhi on Jan 31</a>The winners of the men's and women's singles at the first Grand Slam of the year will each take home Aus$4.15 million, up 19 percent from last year.Asked on Friday about the increase, two-time major champion Gauff said: "The percentage is still, of revenue comparison, not where we would like it."I think there's still further conversations that have to be had, not just with the Australian Open, but with all the slams."She added: "The collective feeling is that, yes, there's been progress, but I still think it's not where we would like to see it."Top players say the changes they are after would benefit the entire tennis ecosystem, and not just those at the top.Asked if she expects more talks with the slams in 2026, Gauff said: "I think no one wants this conversation to be continuing for years and years."So I would imagine that we would continue to have those conversations and maybe more pressure being applied with especially the top 10."World number three Alexander Zverev, last year's beaten Australian Open finalist, struck a less upbeat tone."Don't really feel like there's any progress, to be honest," the German said."I feel like it's just a lot of talk, a lot of time invested into it, and not really any changes."Women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka -- who like Gauff has represented the players in talks with the majors -- was asked if the Australian Open concessions were enough."I think we always can do better," the four-time Grand Slam champion replied."But I think all of the slams, they are trying to work together with us and come to a conclusion. I hope one day we'll get to a happy place for everyone."

The winners of the men's and women's singles at the first Grand Slam of the year will each take home Aus$4.15 million, up 19 percent from last year.

Coco Gauff said that a record prize pool at the Australian Open starting on Sunday was "progress" but "still not where we'd like it". The leading players in men's and women's tennis joined forces last year seeking from the four majors a higher percentage of tournament revenue and contributions towards welfare programmes such as pensions. They also want to be consulted when any of the Grand Slams consider making changes that could directly affect them. The Australian Open pledged a 16 percent increase in the total prize purse to Aus$111.5 million (US$75 million) this year. Also Read: Breaking Undisputed Championship India qualifier in New Delhi on Jan 31 The winners of the men's and women's singles at the first Grand Slam of the year will each take home Aus$4.15 million, up 19 percent from last year. Asked on Friday about the increase, two-time major champion Gauff said: "The percentage is still, of revenue comparison, not where we would like it. "I think there's still further conversations that have to be had, not just with the Australian Open, but with all the slams." She added: "The collective feeling is that, yes, there's been progress, but I still think it's not where we would like to see it." Top players say the changes they are after would benefit the entire tennis ecosystem, and not just those at the top. Asked if she expects more talks with the slams in 2026, Gauff said: "I think no one wants this conversation to be continuing for years and years. "So I would imagine that we would continue to have those conversations and maybe more pressure being applied with especially the top 10." World number three Alexander Zverev, last year's beaten Australian Open finalist, struck a less upbeat tone. "Don't really feel like there's any progress, to be honest," the German said. "I feel like it's just a lot of talk, a lot of time invested into it, and not really any changes." Women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka -- who like Gauff has represented the players in talks with the majors -- was asked if the Australian Open concessions were enough. "I think we always can do better," the four-time Grand Slam champion replied. "But I think all of the slams, they are trying to work together with us and come to a conclusion. I hope one day we'll get to a happy place for everyone."

The winners of the men's and women's singles at the first Grand Slam of the year will each take home Aus$4.15 million, up 19 percent from last year.

Coco Gauff lauds Australian Open prize pool 'progress' but acknowledged room for improvement

Roger Federer returned to Melbourne after six years, not as a competitor, but as a proud witness to a new era of tennis. The six-time Australian Open champion shared his thoughts on the sport’s rising stars and spoke about how Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz make him reflect on his own playing days. For Federer, tennis has changed roles, but the love for the game remains exactly the same.&nbsp;Speaking at the Australian Open 2026, the 20-time Grand Slam winner said he now enjoys tennis with curiosity and freedom. He watches matches without pressure, simply appreciating the quality and growth of the new generation. Federer had earlier visited Wimbledon in 2025, where he watched a gripping match between Grigor Dimitrov and Jannik Sinner from the Royal Box. That encounter made him imagine how it would feel to face the Italian star in a competitive match.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-australian-open-2026-can-be-a-career-defining-moment-for-carlos-alcaraz-and-iga-swiatek-1768565081464">How Australian Open 2026 can be a career-defining moment for Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek</a>&nbsp;“When I saw Grigor against Jannik at Wimbledon, I started imagining what it would be like to face him. He is very different from me,” Federer said while speaking to the media.&nbsp;Federer revealed that although he and Sinner practiced together a couple of times, they never faced each other in an official match. He feels Sinner’s game presents a unique challenge, built on power, precision, and calmness. The Italian’s style, according to Federer, is very different from his own approach during his playing career.&nbsp;However, when Federer watches Carlos Alcaraz, he feels a much stronger connection. The Swiss legend believes Alcaraz’s game carries many similarities to his own style. The Spaniard’s creativity, comfort at the net, use of drop shots, and ability to switch between attack and defense remind Federer of how he played.&nbsp;“Instead, when I watch Carlos, I feel closer to his style: the drop shots, the runs to the net, the ability to alternate defense and attack,” Federer said. He also spoke about Alcaraz’s mindset and joy on the court. “I identify with his mentality. When you see Carlos smiling, you know his rival is in all kinds of trouble,” he added. Federer explained that this mix of enjoyment and confidence is what makes Alcaraz so special. It shows a player who embraces pressure rather than fearing it.&nbsp;“Today, I enjoy tennis as a simple fan,” Federer said, showing how his relationship with the sport has evolved. With Sinner and Alcaraz seen as favourites for the Australian Open title, Federer believes fans could witness another classic rivalry.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their potential final would be their fourth straight Grand Slam meeting, proving their dominance at the highest level. For Federer, tennis is in safe hands, guided by two exceptional talents.

Roger Federer returned to Melbourne and shared why Carlos Alcaraz reminds him of his own style, while Jannik Sinner brings a different challenge, calling both the future faces of world tennis.

Roger Federer returned to Melbourne after six years, not as a competitor, but as a proud witness to a new era of tennis. The six-time Australian Open champion shared his thoughts on the sport’s rising stars and spoke about how Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz make him reflect on his own playing days. For Federer, tennis has changed roles, but the love for the game remains exactly the same. Speaking at the Australian Open 2026, the 20-time Grand Slam winner said he now enjoys tennis with curiosity and freedom. He watches matches without pressure, simply appreciating the quality and growth of the new generation. Federer had earlier visited Wimbledon in 2025, where he watched a gripping match between Grigor Dimitrov and Jannik Sinner from the Royal Box. That encounter made him imagine how it would feel to face the Italian star in a competitive match. Also read | How Australian Open 2026 can be a career-defining moment for Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek “When I saw Grigor against Jannik at Wimbledon, I started imagining what it would be like to face him. He is very different from me,” Federer said while speaking to the media. Federer revealed that although he and Sinner practiced together a couple of times, they never faced each other in an official match. He feels Sinner’s game presents a unique challenge, built on power, precision, and calmness. The Italian’s style, according to Federer, is very different from his own approach during his playing career. However, when Federer watches Carlos Alcaraz, he feels a much stronger connection. The Swiss legend believes Alcaraz’s game carries many similarities to his own style. The Spaniard’s creativity, comfort at the net, use of drop shots, and ability to switch between attack and defense remind Federer of how he played. “Instead, when I watch Carlos, I feel closer to his style: the drop shots, the runs to the net, the ability to alternate defense and attack,” Federer said. He also spoke about Alcaraz’s mindset and joy on the court. “I identify with his mentality. When you see Carlos smiling, you know his rival is in all kinds of trouble,” he added. Federer explained that this mix of enjoyment and confidence is what makes Alcaraz so special. It shows a player who embraces pressure rather than fearing it. “Today, I enjoy tennis as a simple fan,” Federer said, showing how his relationship with the sport has evolved. With Sinner and Alcaraz seen as favourites for the Australian Open title, Federer believes fans could witness another classic rivalry. Their potential final would be their fourth straight Grand Slam meeting, proving their dominance at the highest level. For Federer, tennis is in safe hands, guided by two exceptional talents.

Roger Federer returned to Melbourne and shared why Carlos Alcaraz reminds him of his own style, while Jannik Sinner brings a different challenge, calling both the future faces of world tennis.

Roger Federer on Alcaraz and Sinner: Why one feels familiar and the other new

The Australian Open 2026 will mark the beginning of the tennis season, with the first Grand Slam set to be played from Sunday (Jan 18) to Sunday (Feb 1) in Melbourne. All tennis players will look to start the year on a strong note, and the spotlight will once again be on Novak Djokovic, who will aim to win his 25th Grand Slam title. Melbourne has always been his favourite hunting ground, and his record &nbsp;(10 titles) at this venue makes him one of the biggest threats in the tournament.&nbsp;However, this year is special for two young stars who are chasing history in Australia. Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek both have a chance to complete their Career Grand Slam in Melbourne, something only a few legends of the sport have achieved. Winning in Australia would place them among the greatest names in tennis history.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-batters-fastest-to-22-000-international-runs-1768559208064">5 batters fastest to 22,000 international runs</a><h2>Alcaraz: Six Grand Slams at just 22</h2>For Carlos Alcaraz, the Australian Open is the only missing piece in his Grand Slam journey. He has already proved his class by winning the US Open in 2022 and 2025, Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, and the French Open in 2024 and 2025. He has conquered clay, grass, and hard courts, but Melbourne has remained his toughest test. His best results there have been quarterfinal finishes in 2024 and 2025. The fast courts and long matches have pushed him hard, but Alcaraz has always shown the ability to learn and grow from every challenge.&nbsp;This season, he comes to Australia with more confidence and maturity. His explosive forehand, quick movement, and fearless approach make him a threat to every player in the draw. If he stays fit and holds his nerve in tight moments, he has everything needed to go all the way. Winning the Australian Open would not just give him another trophy; it would complete his Career Grand Slam and place him among the youngest players ever to achieve this rare milestone.<h2>Swiatek: 4 French Open titles at just 24</h2>Iga Swiatek is also chasing something special in Melbourne. The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam title missing from her collection. She has ruled the French Open with four titles in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024, won Wimbledon in 2025, and lifted the US Open in 2022. Her best performances in Australia have been reaching the semifinals in 2022 and 2025. Despite her success elsewhere, Melbourne has always been a difficult stop for her.&nbsp;The faster courts in Australia do not naturally suit her heavy topspin game, but her improvement on hard courts over the years has been clear. Swiatek is known for her discipline, patience, and strong mindset. If she finds her rhythm early, she can control matches and outlast her opponents. A win in Melbourne would complete her Career Grand Slam and place her in an elite group of champions who have mastered all four majors.&nbsp;The Australian Open 2026 is not only about lifting trophies. It is about ambition and legacy. While Novak Djokovic looks to extend his greatness, Alcaraz and Swiatek are chasing history. For both, Melbourne could be the stage where they move from champions to all-time greats.

Two young stars chase a rare milestone at the season’s first major. One title can change careers, rewrite records, and shape tennis history as Melbourne becomes the stage for ambition, pressure, and greatness.


The Australian Open 2026 will mark the beginning of the tennis season, with the first Grand Slam set to be played from Sunday (Jan 18) to Sunday (Feb 1) in Melbourne. All tennis players will look to start the year on a strong note, and the spotlight will once again be on Novak Djokovic, who will aim to win his 25th Grand Slam title. Melbourne has always been his favourite hunting ground, and his record (10 titles) at this venue makes him one of the biggest threats in the tournament. However, this year is special for two young stars who are chasing history in Australia. Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek both have a chance to complete their Career Grand Slam in Melbourne, something only a few legends of the sport have achieved. Winning in Australia would place them among the greatest names in tennis history. Also read | 5 batters fastest to 22,000 international runs Alcaraz: Six Grand Slams at just 22 For Carlos Alcaraz, the Australian Open is the only missing piece in his Grand Slam journey. He has already proved his class by winning the US Open in 2022 and 2025, Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, and the French Open in 2024 and 2025. He has conquered clay, grass, and hard courts, but Melbourne has remained his toughest test. His best results there have been quarterfinal finishes in 2024 and 2025. The fast courts and long matches have pushed him hard, but Alcaraz has always shown the ability to learn and grow from every challenge. This season, he comes to Australia with more confidence and maturity. His explosive forehand, quick movement, and fearless approach make him a threat to every player in the draw. If he stays fit and holds his nerve in tight moments, he has everything needed to go all the way. Winning the Australian Open would not just give him another trophy; it would complete his Career Grand Slam and place him among the youngest players ever to achieve this rare milestone. Swiatek: 4 French Open titles at just 24 Iga Swiatek is also chasing something special in Melbourne. The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam title missing from her collection. She has ruled the French Open with four titles in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024, won Wimbledon in 2025, and lifted the US Open in 2022. Her best performances in Australia have been reaching the semifinals in 2022 and 2025. Despite her success elsewhere, Melbourne has always been a difficult stop for her. The faster courts in Australia do not naturally suit her heavy topspin game, but her improvement on hard courts over the years has been clear. Swiatek is known for her discipline, patience, and strong mindset. If she finds her rhythm early, she can control matches and outlast her opponents. A win in Melbourne would complete her Career Grand Slam and place her in an elite group of champions who have mastered all four majors. The Australian Open 2026 is not only about lifting trophies. It is about ambition and legacy. While Novak Djokovic looks to extend his greatness, Alcaraz and Swiatek are chasing history. For both, Melbourne could be the stage where they move from champions to all-time greats.

Two young stars chase a rare milestone at the season’s first major. One title can change careers, rewrite records, and shape tennis history as Melbourne becomes the stage for ambition, pressure, and greatness.

How Australian Open 2026 can be a career-defining moment for Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek

The Australian Open 2026 is all set for another thriller as top tennis stars around the globe gather in Melbourne. Starting Sunday (Jan 18) more than 300 players will test their luck in different divisions as they look to get the Grand Slam season underway. The top names include Italy’s Jannik Sinner, and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, while the women’s division also consists of names like Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and others. So ahead of the upcoming Australian Open 2026, here’s all you need to know, including prize money, top seeds, live streaming and broadcast details.<h2>When does the Australian Open 2026 main round start, and when are the finals?</h2>The first round of men’s and women’s singles matches starts on Sunday, January 18.The women’s singles final will be played at the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, January 31, and the men’s singles final will be played at the same venue a day later.<h2>Where is the Australian Open 2026 played?</h2>The first Slam of the year is played on the hard court venues located at Melbourne Park. Apart from the Rod Laver Arena, the other main courts are the Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena.<h2>Who are the Australian Open defending champions?</h2>Madison Keys stunned two-time champion Sabalenka to win her first Slam in the 2025 final in three sets.&nbsp;In the men’s final, it was a Jannik Sinner masterclass as the Italian overcame Germany’s Alexander Zverev in straight sets for his second Australian Open title.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a><h2>Who are the top seeds at Australian Open 2026?</h2>Men’s:<ol><li>Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)</li><li>Jannik Sinner (Italy)</li><li>Alexander Zverev (Germany)</li><li>Novak Djokovic (Serbia)</li><li>Lorenzo Musetti (Italy)</li><li>Alex de Minaur (Australia)</li><li>Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada)</li><li>Ben Shelton (USA)</li><li>Taylor Fritz (USA)</li><li>Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan)</li></ol>Women’s:<ol><li>Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)</li><li>Iga Swiatek (Poland)</li><li>Coco Gauff (USA)</li><li>Amanda Anisimova (USA)</li><li>Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)</li><li>Jessica Pegula (USA)</li><li>Jasmine Paolini (Italy)</li><li>Mirra Andreeva (Russia)</li><li>Madison Keys (USA)</li><li>Belinda Bencic (Switzerland)</li></ol>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a><h2>How much is the prize money for the Australian Open 2026?</h2>The total prize money on offer will be $74.9m, while the men’s and women’s singles champions will receive $2.79m each.<h2>How to follow and livestream the Australian Open 2026?</h2>The tournament will be shown by local and terrestrial broadcasters, as well as digital streaming services around the globe. In India Sony Sports Network will broadcast the Australian Open 2026 while Sony Liv app will live stream the same.

Ahead of the upcoming Australian Open 2026, here’s all you need to know, including prize money, top seeds, live streaming and broadcast details.

The Australian Open 2026 is all set for another thriller as top tennis stars around the globe gather in Melbourne. Starting Sunday (Jan 18) more than 300 players will test their luck in different divisions as they look to get the Grand Slam season underway. The top names include Italy’s Jannik Sinner, and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, while the women’s division also consists of names like Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and others. So ahead of the upcoming Australian Open 2026, here’s all you need to know, including prize money, top seeds, live streaming and broadcast details. When does the Australian Open 2026 main round start, and when are the finals? The first round of men’s and women’s singles matches starts on Sunday, January 18. The women’s singles final will be played at the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, January 31, and the men’s singles final will be played at the same venue a day later. Where is the Australian Open 2026 played? The first Slam of the year is played on the hard court venues located at Melbourne Park. Apart from the Rod Laver Arena, the other main courts are the Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena. Who are the Australian Open defending champions? Madison Keys stunned two-time champion Sabalenka to win her first Slam in the 2025 final in three sets. In the men’s final, it was a Jannik Sinner masterclass as the Italian overcame Germany’s Alexander Zverev in straight sets for his second Australian Open title. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli Who are the top seeds at Australian Open 2026? Men’s: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) Jannik Sinner (Italy) Alexander Zverev (Germany) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Lorenzo Musetti (Italy) Alex de Minaur (Australia) Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada) Ben Shelton (USA) Taylor Fritz (USA) Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) Women’s: Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) Iga Swiatek (Poland) Coco Gauff (USA) Amanda Anisimova (USA) Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) Jessica Pegula (USA) Jasmine Paolini (Italy) Mirra Andreeva (Russia) Madison Keys (USA) Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes How much is the prize money for the Australian Open 2026? The total prize money on offer will be $74.9m, while the men’s and women’s singles champions will receive $2.79m each. How to follow and livestream the Australian Open 2026? The tournament will be shown by local and terrestrial broadcasters, as well as digital streaming services around the globe. In India Sony Sports Network will broadcast the Australian Open 2026 while Sony Liv app will live stream the same.

Ahead of the upcoming Australian Open 2026, here’s all you need to know, including prize money, top seeds, live streaming and broadcast details.

Australian Open 2026: Here's all you need to know, including prize money, top seeds, live streaming and more

The draws for the Australian Open 2026 were released on Thursday (Jan 15) as 10-time champion Novak Djokovic is all set for a semifinal bout with Jannik Sinner. The heavyweight clash will be a repeat of the 2025 Wimbledon semifinal as the two are drawn on the same side. On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz will look to complete his career Grand Slam at the Australian Open as he takes on home favourite Adam Walton in the opening round.<h2>Djokovic-Sinner projected for semis</h2>If all goes according to plan, both Sinner and Djokovic will meet at the semis, having last clashed against one another at the Rod Laver Arena in the 2024 semis. Sinner became just the eighth man at that time to beat the 10-time Australian Open champion in the opening slam of the calendar year. Interestingly, Sinner has won the last five meetings between the duo.&nbsp;World number one Alcaraz opens against home hope Adam Walton in his bid for a career Grand Slam and first Melbourne Park title. The Spanish superstar is on the same side of the draw as last year's beaten finalist Alexander Zverev and is scheduled to meet him in the last four.&nbsp;Italy's Sinner saw off Germany's Zverev in straight sets in last year's final and went on to add the Wimbledon and ATP Finals crowns to his growing collection.&nbsp;"The draw is very difficult; it doesn't matter who you play," said Sinner at the draw ceremony.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;"We are the best players in the world and the way is very, very long and very far. We will go day-by-day."&nbsp;In the women's draw, American defending champion Madison Keys will take on Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova while world number one Aryna Sabalenka kicks off against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Keys stunned the title-holder Sabalenka 12 months ago in a classic three-set final to win her first major title aged 29.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;But she failed to kick on from there, not winning another tournament all year, and Keys, the world number nine, will have a target on her back as champion. Sabalenka and world number three Coco Gauff are on the same side of the draw and will meet in the semi-finals if they make it that far.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz opens against home hope Adam Walton in his bid for a career Grand Slam and first Melbourne Park title. The Spanish superstar is on the same side of the draw as last year's beaten finalist Alexander Zverev and is scheduled to meet him in the last four.

The draws for the Australian Open 2026 were released on Thursday (Jan 15) as 10-time champion Novak Djokovic is all set for a semifinal bout with Jannik Sinner. The heavyweight clash will be a repeat of the 2025 Wimbledon semifinal as the two are drawn on the same side. On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz will look to complete his career Grand Slam at the Australian Open as he takes on home favourite Adam Walton in the opening round. Djokovic-Sinner projected for semis If all goes according to plan, both Sinner and Djokovic will meet at the semis, having last clashed against one another at the Rod Laver Arena in the 2024 semis. Sinner became just the eighth man at that time to beat the 10-time Australian Open champion in the opening slam of the calendar year. Interestingly, Sinner has won the last five meetings between the duo. World number one Alcaraz opens against home hope Adam Walton in his bid for a career Grand Slam and first Melbourne Park title. The Spanish superstar is on the same side of the draw as last year's beaten finalist Alexander Zverev and is scheduled to meet him in the last four. Italy's Sinner saw off Germany's Zverev in straight sets in last year's final and went on to add the Wimbledon and ATP Finals crowns to his growing collection. "The draw is very difficult; it doesn't matter who you play," said Sinner at the draw ceremony. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes "We are the best players in the world and the way is very, very long and very far. We will go day-by-day." In the women's draw, American defending champion Madison Keys will take on Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova while world number one Aryna Sabalenka kicks off against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Keys stunned the title-holder Sabalenka 12 months ago in a classic three-set final to win her first major title aged 29. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes But she failed to kick on from there, not winning another tournament all year, and Keys, the world number nine, will have a target on her back as champion. Sabalenka and world number three Coco Gauff are on the same side of the draw and will meet in the semi-finals if they make it that far.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz opens against home hope Adam Walton in his bid for a career Grand Slam and first Melbourne Park title. The Spanish superstar is on the same side of the draw as last year's beaten finalist Alexander Zverev and is scheduled to meet him in the last four.

Australian Open 2026: Djokovic-Sinner clash projected for semis, Alcaraz to start against home favourite Walton

Here is a look at five key battles between Carlos Aclaraz and Jannik Sinner in recent times as they look set to meet at the Australian Open 2026. This key battles include US Open 2025 final, Wimbledon 2025 final and French Open 2025 final. 

Here is a look at five key battles between Carlos Aclaraz and Jannik Sinner in recent times as they look set to meet at the Australian Open 2026. This key battles include US Open 2025 final, Wimbledon 2025 final and French Open 2025 final.&nbsp;

Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz: 5 epic battles between modern-day tennis greats

The Australia Open 2026, year's first grand slam, is set to start on January 21 (main draw) and the seeds for both, men and women, have been announced on Wednesday (Jan 14). The tournament has announced top 32 players for both men and women with Carlos Alcaraz being top male player and Aryna Sabalenka being the top female player. There's hardly any surprise in the seed list with all important players getting a place.<h2>Australia Open 2026 men's seeds</h2>Spain Carlos Alcaraz is the top see male player at the AO 2026, followed by Italian Jannik Sinner who will enter the tournament as a two-time defending champion. The 1 &amp; 2 seed for Alcaraz &amp; Sinner means that two players, should they keep winning, will face off each other in the final. If that happens, it'll be the fourth straight grand slam final between the Sinner and Alcaraz and the first one in Australia Open.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/u-19-odi-world-cup-2026-faqs-teams-venues-match-details-records-when-and-where-to-watch-in-india-1768386200055">U-19 Men's ODI World Cup: Everything you should know but don't know yet</a>Alexander Zverev is seeded number three with 24-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic at number 4 and Sinner's coutryman Lorenzo Musetti rounding up top 5.<h2>Australian Open 2026 women's seeds</h2>Aryna Sabalenka is the top seeded player followed by Poland's Iga Swiatek. Both the players will meet in the final, just like Alcaraz and Sinner, should they keep winning. They would have met in the AO 2025 final last year if not for Madison Keys who beat Swiatek in the semis and Sabalenka in the final to complete her fairy tale run. Key, this year, is seeded number 9. The top three seed after Sabalenka and Swiatek are Coco Gauff (3), Amanda Anisimova (4), and Elena Rybakina (5).After main draw starts on Jan 21, the men's semis will be played on Jan 30 with the final set to take place on February 1 while the women's semis are scheduled to be played on Jan 29 with final set for Jan 31.

After main draw starts on Jan 21, the men's semis will be played on Jan 30 with the final set to take place on February 1 while the women's semis are scheduled to be played on Jan 29 with final set for Jan 31.

The Australia Open 2026, year's first grand slam, is set to start on January 21 (main draw) and the seeds for both, men and women, have been announced on Wednesday (Jan 14). The tournament has announced top 32 players for both men and women with Carlos Alcaraz being top male player and Aryna Sabalenka being the top female player. There's hardly any surprise in the seed list with all important players getting a place. Australia Open 2026 men's seeds Spain Carlos Alcaraz is the top see male player at the AO 2026, followed by Italian Jannik Sinner who will enter the tournament as a two-time defending champion. The 1 & 2 seed for Alcaraz & Sinner means that two players, should they keep winning, will face off each other in the final. If that happens, it'll be the fourth straight grand slam final between the Sinner and Alcaraz and the first one in Australia Open. Also Read - U-19 Men's ODI World Cup: Everything you should know but don't know yet Alexander Zverev is seeded number three with 24-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic at number 4 and Sinner's coutryman Lorenzo Musetti rounding up top 5. Australian Open 2026 women's seeds Aryna Sabalenka is the top seeded player followed by Poland's Iga Swiatek. Both the players will meet in the final, just like Alcaraz and Sinner, should they keep winning. They would have met in the AO 2025 final last year if not for Madison Keys who beat Swiatek in the semis and Sabalenka in the final to complete her fairy tale run. Key, this year, is seeded number 9. The top three seed after Sabalenka and Swiatek are Coco Gauff (3), Amanda Anisimova (4), and Elena Rybakina (5). After main draw starts on Jan 21, the men's semis will be played on Jan 30 with the final set to take place on February 1 while the women's semis are scheduled to be played on Jan 29 with final set for Jan 31.

After main draw starts on Jan 21, the men's semis will be played on Jan 30 with the final set to take place on February 1 while the women's semis are scheduled to be played on Jan 29 with final set for Jan 31.

Australian Open 2026: Alcaraz, Sinner and Sabalenka, Swiatek top seed players

World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz’s hunt for a new coaching voice has quietly brought some of the biggest names in tennis into the conversation after he recently parted ways with his long-time mentor, Juan Carlos Ferrero. While his immediate setup is in place, the bigger question now is who will guide him through the most defining phase of his career. The split with Ferrero came as a shock to many, as their partnership lasted seven years and shaped Alcaraz into a multiple Grand Slam champion and the top-ranked player in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;Together, they built a game that mixed power, speed, and fearlessness. From the outside, it looked like a perfect match. But behind the scenes, things were not as smooth as they appeared. Reports suggested that Alcaraz’s camp had concerns for some time. There were talks of change as early as December 2024, but Alcaraz himself decided to continue with Ferrero through 2025.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-top-batters-fastest-to-28-000-international-runs-1768217987558">Meet top batters fastest to 28,000 international runs</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;By the end of the season, the decision was finally made to move in a new direction. It marked the end of one of the most successful player-coach relationships in recent tennis history.&nbsp;For now, Samuel Lopez has taken charge as Alcaraz’s main coach. He joined the team full-time before the 2025 season and is trusted within the setup. Still, many believe this is only a temporary structure. Alcaraz is expected to add another experienced voice, someone who has been at the very top of the sport and understands what it takes to stay there.&nbsp;Former world No.1 Mats Wilander believes that voice should come from a Grand Slam champion. Speaking to Eurosport, he said it is important for a player like Alcaraz to have advice from someone who has lived through the pressure of winning majors. He already had that with Ferrero, and Wilander feels the next step should follow the same path.&nbsp;However, Wilander does not think Andy Murray is the right choice. In his view, Murray and Alcaraz play in similar ways. Both rely on movement, defense, and building points with patience. While that shared style has value, it may not bring something fresh to Alcaraz’s game.&nbsp;Instead, Wilander pointed towards Roger Federer. He feels Federer’s approach to tennis is completely different and could help Alcaraz grow in areas where he is still developing. Federer was known for his calm control, smooth shot-making, and ability to finish points early.&nbsp;According to Wilander, Federer could guide Alcaraz in using more variety, softer hands, and better net play. These are skills that can make matches shorter and save energy across long tournaments.

Former world No.1 believes Carlos Alcaraz needs a coach with a contrasting playing style, not Andy Murray, to sharpen his weaker areas and add new depth as he enters a crucial phase of his career.


World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz’s hunt for a new coaching voice has quietly brought some of the biggest names in tennis into the conversation after he recently parted ways with his long-time mentor, Juan Carlos Ferrero. While his immediate setup is in place, the bigger question now is who will guide him through the most defining phase of his career. The split with Ferrero came as a shock to many, as their partnership lasted seven years and shaped Alcaraz into a multiple Grand Slam champion and the top-ranked player in the world. Together, they built a game that mixed power, speed, and fearlessness. From the outside, it looked like a perfect match. But behind the scenes, things were not as smooth as they appeared. Reports suggested that Alcaraz’s camp had concerns for some time. There were talks of change as early as December 2024, but Alcaraz himself decided to continue with Ferrero through 2025. Also read | Meet top batters fastest to 28,000 international runs By the end of the season, the decision was finally made to move in a new direction. It marked the end of one of the most successful player-coach relationships in recent tennis history. For now, Samuel Lopez has taken charge as Alcaraz’s main coach. He joined the team full-time before the 2025 season and is trusted within the setup. Still, many believe this is only a temporary structure. Alcaraz is expected to add another experienced voice, someone who has been at the very top of the sport and understands what it takes to stay there. Former world No.1 Mats Wilander believes that voice should come from a Grand Slam champion. Speaking to Eurosport, he said it is important for a player like Alcaraz to have advice from someone who has lived through the pressure of winning majors. He already had that with Ferrero, and Wilander feels the next step should follow the same path. However, Wilander does not think Andy Murray is the right choice. In his view, Murray and Alcaraz play in similar ways. Both rely on movement, defense, and building points with patience. While that shared style has value, it may not bring something fresh to Alcaraz’s game. Instead, Wilander pointed towards Roger Federer. He feels Federer’s approach to tennis is completely different and could help Alcaraz grow in areas where he is still developing. Federer was known for his calm control, smooth shot-making, and ability to finish points early. According to Wilander, Federer could guide Alcaraz in using more variety, softer hands, and better net play. These are skills that can make matches shorter and save energy across long tournaments.

Former world No.1 believes Carlos Alcaraz needs a coach with a contrasting playing style, not Andy Murray, to sharpen his weaker areas and add new depth as he enters a crucial phase of his career.

Not Andy Murray, Wilander wants THIS tennis stalwart to coach Carlos Alcaraz

From Novak Djokovic to Steffi Graf, explore the legends who ruled the Australian Open with consecutive titles. A look at dominance, records, and iconic runs that defined Melbourne and shaped tennis history forever.


From Novak Djokovic to Steffi Graf, explore the legends who ruled the Australian Open with consecutive titles. A look at dominance, records, and iconic runs that defined Melbourne and shaped tennis history forever.

From Novak Djokovic to Steffi Graf: Meet legends with  most consecutive titles at Australian Open

Iga Swiatek played down any concerns around her form and fitness and maintained that everything was under control despite suffering back-to-back defeats just days before the Australian Open. The world number two faced rare consecutive losses at the United Cup in Sydney, first against Coco Gauff in the semi-final and then against Belinda Bencic in the final, but refused to read too much into the results.&nbsp;&nbsp;Swiatek looked physically drained and emotionally frustrated during the final, where she lost momentum completely after a strong second set. However, the Polish star remained confident that these setbacks were part of the early-season grind and would not affect her chances at the season’s first Grand Slam. She believes recovery and fine-tuning will put her back on track.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-ayush-badoni-gets-maiden-odi-call-up-after-washington-sundar-injury-1768222953728">IND vs NZ: Ayush Badoni gets maiden ODI call-up after Washington Sundar injury</a>&nbsp;“Everything is fine. I’m just super sore. The first tournament of the year always costs the body differently than during the season. I had a similar experience last year, too. I’ll just get a good recovery and take a couple of days off.” Speaking about the physical and mental demands of team events, she added, “I love them, but they really take a lot of energy from you. I still need to figure out how to balance that in the future.” Swiatek also admitted she was not sharp against Bencic, saying, “I wasn’t feeling so precise physically. My movement and intensity dropped.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Swiatek lost 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the mixed teams final, a match that summed up her struggles. After dominating the second set, she lost seven consecutive games, including a rare bagel, and finished with 36 unforced errors compared to Bencic’s 10. The frustration was visible as she tossed her racquet and looked close to tears at the end. It was an uncharacteristic sight for a player known for her composure and consistency.&nbsp;Before the losses to Gauff and Bencic, Swiatek had impressed with comfortable wins over Eva Lys, Suzan Lamens and Maya Joint. That made her sudden dip in form even more surprising. These defeats marked only the second time in recent years that she has lost back-to-back matches, the last instance coming at the WTA Finals in 2025.&nbsp;With the Australian Open around the corner, Swiatek knows time is limited. “We’re going to work on improving the elements that didn’t work this week,” she said, according to AFP. “There isn’t much time if I also want to recover, but this is tennis. You have to go with the flow.”&nbsp;The Australian Open remains the only Grand Slam missing from Swiatek’s career. She has reached the semi-finals twice in Melbourne but is yet to go beyond that stage.

Iga Swiatek says everything is fine after back-to-back losses at the United Cup, admitting soreness but staying confident of recovery as she fine-tunes her game ahead of Australian Open 2026.

Iga Swiatek played down any concerns around her form and fitness and maintained that everything was under control despite suffering back-to-back defeats just days before the Australian Open. The world number two faced rare consecutive losses at the United Cup in Sydney, first against Coco Gauff in the semi-final and then against Belinda Bencic in the final, but refused to read too much into the results. Swiatek looked physically drained and emotionally frustrated during the final, where she lost momentum completely after a strong second set. However, the Polish star remained confident that these setbacks were part of the early-season grind and would not affect her chances at the season’s first Grand Slam. She believes recovery and fine-tuning will put her back on track. Also read | IND vs NZ: Ayush Badoni gets maiden ODI call-up after Washington Sundar injury “Everything is fine. I’m just super sore. The first tournament of the year always costs the body differently than during the season. I had a similar experience last year, too. I’ll just get a good recovery and take a couple of days off.” Speaking about the physical and mental demands of team events, she added, “I love them, but they really take a lot of energy from you. I still need to figure out how to balance that in the future.” Swiatek also admitted she was not sharp against Bencic, saying, “I wasn’t feeling so precise physically. My movement and intensity dropped.” Swiatek lost 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the mixed teams final, a match that summed up her struggles. After dominating the second set, she lost seven consecutive games, including a rare bagel, and finished with 36 unforced errors compared to Bencic’s 10. The frustration was visible as she tossed her racquet and looked close to tears at the end. It was an uncharacteristic sight for a player known for her composure and consistency. Before the losses to Gauff and Bencic, Swiatek had impressed with comfortable wins over Eva Lys, Suzan Lamens and Maya Joint. That made her sudden dip in form even more surprising. These defeats marked only the second time in recent years that she has lost back-to-back matches, the last instance coming at the WTA Finals in 2025. With the Australian Open around the corner, Swiatek knows time is limited. “We’re going to work on improving the elements that didn’t work this week,” she said, according to AFP. “There isn’t much time if I also want to recover, but this is tennis. You have to go with the flow.” The Australian Open remains the only Grand Slam missing from Swiatek’s career. She has reached the semi-finals twice in Melbourne but is yet to go beyond that stage.

Iga Swiatek says everything is fine after back-to-back losses at the United Cup, admitting soreness but staying confident of recovery as she fine-tunes her game ahead of Australian Open 2026.

'Everything is fine': Swiatek sends calm message before Australian Open 2026

Players at this month's Australian Open will be competing for a record prize pool, with organisers on Tuesday announcing a 16 per cent increase in the total purse to AUS $111.5 million (US $75 million). The winners of the men's and women's singles at the first Grand Slam of the year will each take home AUS $4.15 million (US $2.79 million), up 19 per cent from last year's AUS $3.5 million.&nbsp;The players beaten in the opening round will get AUS $150,000 (US $100,750), while even those knocked out in the first round of qualifying receive AUS $40,500 (US $27,200).&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-nick-kyrgios-urges-novak-djokovic-to-play-as-long-as-possible-after-adelaide-withdrawal-australian-open-2026-1767672990635">Kyrgios urges Djokovic to play ‘as long as possible’ after Adelaide withdrawal</a>&nbsp;Tournament director Craig Tiley said it reflected Tennis Australia's commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level, from rising stars to Grand Slam champions.&nbsp;"From boosting qualifying prize money by 55 per cent since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we're ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors," he said. “By supporting players at all levels, we're building deeper talent pools and more compelling storylines for fans.”&nbsp;The tournament gets underway at Melbourne Park on January 18, with Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys defending their titles.<h2>Prize Money at the 2026 Australian Open&nbsp;</h2><ul><li>Singles Winner – AUS $4,150,000</li><li>Singles Runner up – AUS $2,150,000</li><li>Singles Semifinalist – AUS $1,250,000</li><li>Singles Quarterfinalist – AUS $750,000</li><li>Singles Round 4 – AUS $480,000</li><li>Singles Round 3 – TBA</li><li>Singles Round 2 - AUS $327,750</li><li>Singles Round 1 - AUS $150,000</li></ul>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The players beaten in the opening round will get AUS $150,000 (US $100,750), while even those knocked out in the first round of qualifying receive AUS $40,500 (US $27,200).

Players at this month's Australian Open will be competing for a record prize pool, with organisers on Tuesday announcing a 16 per cent increase in the total purse to AUS $111.5 million (US $75 million). The winners of the men's and women's singles at the first Grand Slam of the year will each take home AUS $4.15 million (US $2.79 million), up 19 per cent from last year's AUS $3.5 million. The players beaten in the opening round will get AUS $150,000 (US $100,750), while even those knocked out in the first round of qualifying receive AUS $40,500 (US $27,200). Also read | Kyrgios urges Djokovic to play ‘as long as possible’ after Adelaide withdrawal Tournament director Craig Tiley said it reflected Tennis Australia's commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level, from rising stars to Grand Slam champions. "From boosting qualifying prize money by 55 per cent since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we're ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors," he said. “By supporting players at all levels, we're building deeper talent pools and more compelling storylines for fans.” The tournament gets underway at Melbourne Park on January 18, with Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys defending their titles. Prize Money at the 2026 Australian Open Singles Winner – AUS $4,150,000 Singles Runner up – AUS $2,150,000 Singles Semifinalist – AUS $1,250,000 Singles Quarterfinalist – AUS $750,000 Singles Round 4 – AUS $480,000 Singles Round 3 – TBA Singles Round 2 - AUS $327,750 Singles Round 1 - AUS $150,000 Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The players beaten in the opening round will get AUS $150,000 (US $100,750), while even those knocked out in the first round of qualifying receive AUS $40,500 (US $27,200).

Australian Open 2026: Prize money pool announced with 16% hike; full details inside

Nick Kyrgios urged Novak Djokovic to stay in tennis "as long as possible" after the Serbian great Tuesday pulled out of his only lead-up tournament to the Australian Open, saying he was "not quite physically ready". The 38-year-old was planning to use the Adelaide International from January 12 as a springboard to the opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park a week later, where he is targeting an 11th title and elusive 25th major crown.&nbsp;"To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately, I'm not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week," Djokovic said on Instagram. "It's personally very disappointing to me, as I have such great memories of winning the title there two years ago. I was really excited about returning, as it truly felt like playing at home.&nbsp;“My focus is now on my preparation for the Australian Open, and I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon and seeing all the tennis fans in Australia.”&nbsp;The world number four has not played a tour match since he defeated Lorenzo Musetti in the Athens final in early November and has become very selective about when and where he plays.&nbsp;Australian showman Kyrgios, competing at the Brisbane International this week as he returns from a long injury layoff, urged everyone involved in tennis to appreciate Djokovic while he was still playing.&nbsp;"There's obviously something there that he wants to achieve, whether it's another Grand Slam or something else," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. "But I think we should just cherish the fact that someone that old in our sport is still at the top of it and still gives everything to it.&nbsp;"The longer we have guys like this around, the better it is for our sport.&nbsp;"I feel like there's been a void in the sport ever since (Roger) Federer and (Rafael) Nadal left ... and obviously when Novak goes, that era is completely gone. I want him to stay for as long as possible."&nbsp;Djokovic indicated last year that he wanted to stay in the sport until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics so he could defend the gold medal he won in Paris. The Serb has had to settle for a secondary role since Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz took control of the men's tour. He made the semis at all four majors in 2025 but failed to go further, with his last Grand Slam title coming at the US Open in 2023. His Adelaide withdrawal came a day after he announced he would cut ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association, a group he co-founded.&nbsp;Djokovic cited "concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented".&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The 38-year-old was planning to use the Adelaide International from January 12 as a springboard to the opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park a week later, where he is targeting an 11th title and elusive 25th major crown.

Nick Kyrgios urged Novak Djokovic to stay in tennis "as long as possible" after the Serbian great Tuesday pulled out of his only lead-up tournament to the Australian Open, saying he was "not quite physically ready". The 38-year-old was planning to use the Adelaide International from January 12 as a springboard to the opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park a week later, where he is targeting an 11th title and elusive 25th major crown. "To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately, I'm not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week," Djokovic said on Instagram. "It's personally very disappointing to me, as I have such great memories of winning the title there two years ago. I was really excited about returning, as it truly felt like playing at home. “My focus is now on my preparation for the Australian Open, and I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon and seeing all the tennis fans in Australia.” The world number four has not played a tour match since he defeated Lorenzo Musetti in the Athens final in early November and has become very selective about when and where he plays. Australian showman Kyrgios, competing at the Brisbane International this week as he returns from a long injury layoff, urged everyone involved in tennis to appreciate Djokovic while he was still playing. "There's obviously something there that he wants to achieve, whether it's another Grand Slam or something else," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. "But I think we should just cherish the fact that someone that old in our sport is still at the top of it and still gives everything to it. "The longer we have guys like this around, the better it is for our sport. "I feel like there's been a void in the sport ever since (Roger) Federer and (Rafael) Nadal left ... and obviously when Novak goes, that era is completely gone. I want him to stay for as long as possible." Djokovic indicated last year that he wanted to stay in the sport until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics so he could defend the gold medal he won in Paris. The Serb has had to settle for a secondary role since Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz took control of the men's tour. He made the semis at all four majors in 2025 but failed to go further, with his last Grand Slam title coming at the US Open in 2023. His Adelaide withdrawal came a day after he announced he would cut ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association, a group he co-founded. Djokovic cited "concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The 38-year-old was planning to use the Adelaide International from January 12 as a springboard to the opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park a week later, where he is targeting an 11th title and elusive 25th major crown.

Kyrgios urges Djokovic to play ‘as long as possible’ after Adelaide withdrawal

Russia's Daniil Medvedev once again called for early night sessions for the upcoming Australian Open 2026 - year's first grand slam. The comment comes after multiple post-midnight finishes for Medvedev at the ongoing Brisbane International tournament. The tournament being played by Medvedev before he gets into action in AO 2026 which kicks off on January 18 to mark the beginning of the new grand slam season.Medvedev complained that late finishes at the first Grand Slam of the year, which begins on January 18 in Melbourne, were unfair to players, spectators and officials and benefited nobody.But he conceded that the demands of television broadcasters came first so change would not happen."It never will, because TV's controlling everything and I think there is always a reason why it (starts at) 7:00 pm and not 6:00 pm," said Medvedev, who has suffered from matches finishing in the early hours of the morning on his last two Australian Open appearances.Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-this-chapter-is-now-closed-says-novak-djokovic-after-quitting-tennis-players-organisation-he-co-founded-1767603637990">'This chapter is now closed': Djokovic on quitting tennis players' organisation</a>A year ago, Medvedev was beaten by Learner Tien in a Melbourne Park match that finished at 2:55 am.In 2024, on his way to the final, he beat Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori in a second-round clash that ended at 3:39 am."I don't think it will ever change," said Medvedev after his 6-2, 6-3 opening round win over Hungary's Marton Fucsovics at the Brisbane International on Monday."And again, I'm happy to play the night session if I need to, and I would not cry about it."The Australian Open stages two matches in its evening sessions, which begin at 7:00 pm on the two main show courts, and it has a notorious reputation for finishes well after midnight.In 2023 three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray's five-hour, 45-minute epic against Thanasi Kokkinakis finished at 4:05 am and also led to calls for change.In 2008, Lleyton Hewitt beat Marcos Baghdatis in an Australian Open match that finished at 4:34 am, the latest finish in Grand Slam history.Medvedev said it made sense to start at 6:00 pm to try to finish earlier."I like soccer, but here I don't watch the Premier League because it's at two in the morning," he said."It's pretty much the same -- people who really love tennis would like to see it at six because then they are almost sure to watch both matches."OK, if it goes ridiculously long, (instead of finishing) at three, it would finish at two. It's better for everyone."

Medvedev complained that late finishes at the first Grand Slam of the year, which begins on January 18 in Melbourne, were unfair to players, spectators and officials and benefited nobody.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev once again called for early night sessions for the upcoming Australian Open 2026 - year's first grand slam. The comment comes after multiple post-midnight finishes for Medvedev at the ongoing Brisbane International tournament. The tournament being played by Medvedev before he gets into action in AO 2026 which kicks off on January 18 to mark the beginning of the new grand slam season. Medvedev complained that late finishes at the first Grand Slam of the year, which begins on January 18 in Melbourne, were unfair to players, spectators and officials and benefited nobody. But he conceded that the demands of television broadcasters came first so change would not happen. "It never will, because TV's controlling everything and I think there is always a reason why it (starts at) 7:00 pm and not 6:00 pm," said Medvedev, who has suffered from matches finishing in the early hours of the morning on his last two Australian Open appearances. Also Read -'This chapter is now closed': Djokovic on quitting tennis players' organisation A year ago, Medvedev was beaten by Learner Tien in a Melbourne Park match that finished at 2:55 am. In 2024, on his way to the final, he beat Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori in a second-round clash that ended at 3:39 am. "I don't think it will ever change," said Medvedev after his 6-2, 6-3 opening round win over Hungary's Marton Fucsovics at the Brisbane International on Monday. "And again, I'm happy to play the night session if I need to, and I would not cry about it." The Australian Open stages two matches in its evening sessions, which begin at 7:00 pm on the two main show courts, and it has a notorious reputation for finishes well after midnight. In 2023 three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray's five-hour, 45-minute epic against Thanasi Kokkinakis finished at 4:05 am and also led to calls for change. In 2008, Lleyton Hewitt beat Marcos Baghdatis in an Australian Open match that finished at 4:34 am, the latest finish in Grand Slam history. Medvedev said it made sense to start at 6:00 pm to try to finish earlier. "I like soccer, but here I don't watch the Premier League because it's at two in the morning," he said. "It's pretty much the same -- people who really love tennis would like to see it at six because then they are almost sure to watch both matches. "OK, if it goes ridiculously long, (instead of finishing) at three, it would finish at two. It's better for everyone."

Medvedev complained that late finishes at the first Grand Slam of the year, which begins on January 18 in Melbourne, were unfair to players, spectators and officials and benefited nobody.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev calls for early night sessions at upcoming Australian Open 2026

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has decided to leave the player orinisation he co-founded back in 2020. Thedevelopment comes a couple of weeks ahead of year's first grand slam, Australian Open 2026, which kicks off January 18 in Melbourne. Djokovic said that the originization no longer aligns with his 'values and approach' and has decided to part ways. He had established the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) along with Vasek Pospisil for better representation of the players' interest.<h2>Djokovic quits player association he con-founded</h2>"I am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA, giving players a stronger, independent voice," Djokovic ​said in a statemet on social media platform X on Sunday (Jan 4). But it has become clear that my values and ⁠approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organisation. I wish the players and those involved the best as they move forward, but for me, this chapter is now closed," he added.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-travis-head-leads-australia-charge-in-sydney-after-joe-root-record-breaking-160-1767600918586">Ashes: Travis Head leads Australia’s charge in Sydney after Root’s record-breaking 160</a>Djokovic and the PTPA were not aligned on 'all aspects' of lawsuit by the organization against tennis bodies ATP, WTP, International Tennis Federation and International Tennis Integrity Agency. The lawsuit alleged anti-competive practices by the tennis bodies and later included four grand slam organizers into the case as well.<h2>What did the organization said on Djokovic's exit?</h2>Responding to Djokovic's social media post, PTPA issued a statement late Sunday (Jan 4) and said: "The PTPA is governed by players and operates with open communication, collaborative decisions and regular engagement. We always welcome the opportunity to ‍address issues with any player, and remain available to do so."The PTPA and Tennis Australia, as per the player association organization, were also close to a deal ahead of the start of the new gran slam season.

Novak Djokovic had established the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) along with Vasek Pospisil in 2020 for better representation of the players' interest.

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has decided to leave the player orinisation he co-founded back in 2020. Thedevelopment comes a couple of weeks ahead of year's first grand slam, Australian Open 2026, which kicks off January 18 in Melbourne. Djokovic said that the originization no longer aligns with his 'values and approach' and has decided to part ways. He had established the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) along with Vasek Pospisil for better representation of the players' interest. Djokovic quits player association he con-founded "I am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA, giving players a stronger, independent voice," Djokovic said in a statemet on social media platform X on Sunday (Jan 4). But it has become clear that my values and ⁠approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organisation. I wish the players and those involved the best as they move forward, but for me, this chapter is now closed," he added. Also Read - Ashes: Travis Head leads Australia’s charge in Sydney after Root’s record-breaking 160 Djokovic and the PTPA were not aligned on 'all aspects' of lawsuit by the organization against tennis bodies ATP, WTP, International Tennis Federation and International Tennis Integrity Agency. The lawsuit alleged anti-competive practices by the tennis bodies and later included four grand slam organizers into the case as well. What did the organization said on Djokovic's exit? Responding to Djokovic's social media post, PTPA issued a statement late Sunday (Jan 4) and said: "The PTPA is governed by players and operates with open communication, collaborative decisions and regular engagement. We always welcome the opportunity to ‍address issues with any player, and remain available to do so." The PTPA and Tennis Australia, as per the player association organization, were also close to a deal ahead of the start of the new gran slam season.

Novak Djokovic had established the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) along with Vasek Pospisil in 2020 for better representation of the players' interest.

'This chapter is now closed,' says Novak Djokovic after quitting tennis players' organisation he co-founded

From Novak Djokovic to Roger Federer, these five players have dominated the Australian Open men’s singles. A look at the players with the most titles, winning years, and record runs in Melbourne history.

From Novak Djokovic to Roger Federer, these five players have dominated the Australian Open men’s singles. A look at the players with the most titles, winning years, and record runs in Melbourne history.

From Novak Djokovic to Roger Federer: 5 players to win most Australian Open men’s singles titles

Nick Kyrgios beat women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the "Battle of the Sexes" on Sunday, in a highly-publicised showdown with modified rules that divided tennis fans.&nbsp;Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match in Dubai that bore little resemblance to the era-defining 1973 encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.&nbsp;Back then, there was more at stake with the nascent women's professional tour, set up by King, fighting for its legitimacy and prize money for female players still far lower than for the men.&nbsp;King, one of the all-time greats of the women's game who was at the peak of her powers, saw off the 55-year-old Riggs, a top player in his day, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in Houston.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;On Sunday, each player received only one serve and the dimensions of Sabalenka's side of the court were nine percent smaller, in an attempt to restrict Kyrgios' power and speed advantage.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Kyrgios has dropped to 671 in the rankings after playing just six ATP matches over the past three seasons, but the 30-year-old Australian still had enough to see off four-time Grand Slam singles champion Sabalenka.&nbsp;"Honestly, it was a really tough match. She's a hell of a competitor," said Kyrgios."I had to strap in because she was putting the pressure on and ultimately it was a really hard-fought battle."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match in Dubai that bore little resemblance to the era-defining 1973 encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.

Nick Kyrgios beat women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the "Battle of the Sexes" on Sunday, in a highly-publicised showdown with modified rules that divided tennis fans. Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match in Dubai that bore little resemblance to the era-defining 1973 encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Back then, there was more at stake with the nascent women's professional tour, set up by King, fighting for its legitimacy and prize money for female players still far lower than for the men. King, one of the all-time greats of the women's game who was at the peak of her powers, saw off the 55-year-old Riggs, a top player in his day, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in Houston. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes On Sunday, each player received only one serve and the dimensions of Sabalenka's side of the court were nine percent smaller, in an attempt to restrict Kyrgios' power and speed advantage. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Kyrgios has dropped to 671 in the rankings after playing just six ATP matches over the past three seasons, but the 30-year-old Australian still had enough to see off four-time Grand Slam singles champion Sabalenka. "Honestly, it was a really tough match. She's a hell of a competitor," said Kyrgios. "I had to strap in because she was putting the pressure on and ultimately it was a really hard-fought battle." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match in Dubai that bore little resemblance to the era-defining 1973 encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.

Nick Kyrgios beats Aryna Sabalenka in 'Battle of the Sexes' in Dubai

Jack Draper’s Australian Open hopes have taken a major hit as the British tennis player has pulled out of the 2026 edition of the tournament due to an ongoing arm injury, dealing another blow to his stop-start career. The 22-year-old announced his withdrawal just days before the Australian Open begins in Melbourne, saying he has not been able to fully recover from a persistent left arm and shoulder issue. Draper was scheduled to play his first-round match but decided to step away after medical advice, leaving an open spot in the men’s singles draw.&nbsp;Draper has struggled with injuries for more than a year now. The problem first surfaced in 2024 and has continued to affect his training and match fitness. Since Wimbledon earlier this year, the young Brit has played only one competitive match. His season went downhill after he was forced to retire from his second-round match at the US Open in August, following which he chose to end his year early to focus on recovery.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-was-mahbub-ali-zaki-the-man-behind-taskin-ahmed-s-comeback-in-international-cricket-1766836937168">Who was Mahbub Ali Zaki? The man behind Taskin Ahmed’s comeback in international cricket</a>&nbsp;His last court appearance came at Wimbledon in July, where he lost to former US Open champion Marin Cilic. Despite pushing hard in training over the past few weeks, Draper could not reach full fitness in time for the Australian Open.&nbsp;In a message shared on social media, Draper expressed his disappointment. He said he was “gutted” to miss the tournament and had worked hard to return to the court, but added that his health had to come first. After speaking with his doctors and team, the decision was made to take more time off and allow the injury to heal properly.&nbsp;Draper’s absence is a setback for fans and for British tennis. He was seen as one of the rising stars of the men’s game after a strong run in recent seasons, including notable wins over higher-ranked players. He had also reached the second round of the Australian Open in 2024 and was expected to build on that performance this time.&nbsp;His team has made it clear that the focus is now on long-term recovery rather than rushing back. Draper is likely to target a return later in the season, possibly during the European clay-court events.The Australian Open is set to begin on January 18, but Draper’s wait for a comeback will continue.

British tennis player Jack Draper has withdrawn from the Australian Open 2026 due to a persistent arm injury. The 22-year-old will focus on recovery after struggling with fitness for over a year.


Jack Draper’s Australian Open hopes have taken a major hit as the British tennis player has pulled out of the 2026 edition of the tournament due to an ongoing arm injury, dealing another blow to his stop-start career. The 22-year-old announced his withdrawal just days before the Australian Open begins in Melbourne, saying he has not been able to fully recover from a persistent left arm and shoulder issue. Draper was scheduled to play his first-round match but decided to step away after medical advice, leaving an open spot in the men’s singles draw. Draper has struggled with injuries for more than a year now. The problem first surfaced in 2024 and has continued to affect his training and match fitness. Since Wimbledon earlier this year, the young Brit has played only one competitive match. His season went downhill after he was forced to retire from his second-round match at the US Open in August, following which he chose to end his year early to focus on recovery. Also read | Who was Mahbub Ali Zaki? The man behind Taskin Ahmed’s comeback in international cricket His last court appearance came at Wimbledon in July, where he lost to former US Open champion Marin Cilic. Despite pushing hard in training over the past few weeks, Draper could not reach full fitness in time for the Australian Open. In a message shared on social media, Draper expressed his disappointment. He said he was “gutted” to miss the tournament and had worked hard to return to the court, but added that his health had to come first. After speaking with his doctors and team, the decision was made to take more time off and allow the injury to heal properly. Draper’s absence is a setback for fans and for British tennis. He was seen as one of the rising stars of the men’s game after a strong run in recent seasons, including notable wins over higher-ranked players. He had also reached the second round of the Australian Open in 2024 and was expected to build on that performance this time. His team has made it clear that the focus is now on long-term recovery rather than rushing back. Draper is likely to target a return later in the season, possibly during the European clay-court events. The Australian Open is set to begin on January 18, but Draper’s wait for a comeback will continue.

British tennis player Jack Draper has withdrawn from the Australian Open 2026 due to a persistent arm injury. The 22-year-old will focus on recovery after struggling with fitness for over a year.

Jack Draper pulls out of Australian Open 2026 due to ongoing arm injury

India’s Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha has secured a place in the men’s doubles main draw of the 2026 Australian Open after winning the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff held in Chengdu, China.&nbsp;The second seed, Niki, representing India, partnered with Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro; the pair won their first match against Tianzhi Qian and Bowen Wu and then went on to defeat Pak Long Yeung and Chih Chi Huang in the semifinals.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the final, they recorded a solid 6–4, 6–3 win over Japan’s Seita Kusuhara and Katsuki Nakagawa to claim the Australian Open wildcard. This gives Niki his first-ever Grand Slam main draw appearance. To recognise this achievement, KSLTA has announced a reward of ₹1,00,000 for Niki Poonacha.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner -Greater Bengaluru Authority and Hon. secretary -KSLTA said: "We at KSLTA are extremely thrilled at Niki Poonacha’s performance at Chengdu, where he won the Australian Open wild card qualifying event along with his partner, Pruchya Isaro.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;"We are happy and proud that he continues the legacy of Rohan Bopanna, who just retired. We wish Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro all the very best in the Australian Open 2026, and we are sure they will make our state and nation proud. The KSLTA is happy to announce a reward of Rs. 1 lakh to Poonacha for this achievement."&nbsp;KSLTA remains committed to supporting athletes representing Karnataka on national and international platforms and acknowledges milestones that contribute to the growth of tennis in the state.

Niki Poonacha, representing India, partnered with Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro; the pair won their first match against Tianzhi Qian and Bowen Wu and then went on to defeat Pak Long Yeung and Chih Chi Huang in the semifinals. 

India’s Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha has secured a place in the men’s doubles main draw of the 2026 Australian Open after winning the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff held in Chengdu, China. The second seed, Niki, representing India, partnered with Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro; the pair won their first match against Tianzhi Qian and Bowen Wu and then went on to defeat Pak Long Yeung and Chih Chi Huang in the semifinals. In the final, they recorded a solid 6–4, 6–3 win over Japan’s Seita Kusuhara and Katsuki Nakagawa to claim the Australian Open wildcard. This gives Niki his first-ever Grand Slam main draw appearance. To recognise this achievement, KSLTA has announced a reward of ₹1,00,000 for Niki Poonacha. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner -Greater Bengaluru Authority and Hon. secretary -KSLTA said: "We at KSLTA are extremely thrilled at Niki Poonacha’s performance at Chengdu, where he won the Australian Open wild card qualifying event along with his partner, Pruchya Isaro. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes "We are happy and proud that he continues the legacy of Rohan Bopanna, who just retired. We wish Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro all the very best in the Australian Open 2026, and we are sure they will make our state and nation proud. The KSLTA is happy to announce a reward of Rs. 1 lakh to Poonacha for this achievement." KSLTA remains committed to supporting athletes representing Karnataka on national and international platforms and acknowledges milestones that contribute to the growth of tennis in the state.

Niki Poonacha, representing India, partnered with Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro; the pair won their first match against Tianzhi Qian and Bowen Wu and then went on to defeat Pak Long Yeung and Chih Chi Huang in the semifinals.&nbsp;

India's Niki Poonacha qualifies for Australian Open 2026 men’s doubles main draw

Six-time grand slam champions Carlos Alcaraz has never won Australia Open but the Spaniard will be facing Aussie amateurs ahead of the Australian Open 2026. The organizers of the year's first grand slam have announced a unique competition where 10 amateurs will be facing 22 professionals including Alcaraz to win a million dollars (Australian). The competition will take place before the main tournament which is scheduled to take place in January next year at the iconic Melbourne Park. Not only the player amateurs but Alcaraz will also be looking at winning big Down Under next year.<h2>Australian Open Million Dollar Point challenge</h2>In the challenge 10 amateur players will face 22 professionals to have a shot at winning one million dollars (Australian) or around 660,000 US dollars. To win the prize money, the amateurs will have to score just one point against the professional. Sounds easy, right? But hey, your opponent most probably is going to be Carlos Alcaraz, who sometimes doesn't even concede a point in a grand slam.Also Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-lebron-james-announces-second-decision-is-he-retiring-here-s-what-nba-superstar-said-1759853652532">LeBron James announces 'Second Decision.' Is he retiring from NBA?</a>The exact details of the competition, such as format, dates, etc. are yet to be announced by the organizers but 'rock, paper &amp; scissors' will be used to determine who will serve and who will receive in the competition.<h2>What is the motive behind this challenge?</h2>This challenge could be the part of making the year's first grand slam and the game of tennis, in general, popular among youth and inspire others to take it up. The 2026 edition would mark the second year of Australian Open 'One Point Challenge' but the 2025 edition largely went unnoticed.The tennis grand slams are making an extra effort to make the game accessible to more fans, Wimbledon, dubbed as the Championship, brought in many influencers in this year's edition while the US Open staged a revamped mixed doubles to attract more crowd in the arena.

In the challenge 10 amateur players will face 22 professionals to have a shot at winning one million dollars (Australian) or around 660,000 US dollars. To win the prize money, the amateurs will have to score just one point against the professional.

Six-time grand slam champions Carlos Alcaraz has never won Australia Open but the Spaniard will be facing Aussie amateurs ahead of the Australian Open 2026. The organizers of the year's first grand slam have announced a unique competition where 10 amateurs will be facing 22 professionals including Alcaraz to win a million dollars (Australian). The competition will take place before the main tournament which is scheduled to take place in January next year at the iconic Melbourne Park. Not only the player amateurs but Alcaraz will also be looking at winning big Down Under next year. Australian Open Million Dollar Point challenge In the challenge 10 amateur players will face 22 professionals to have a shot at winning one million dollars (Australian) or around 660,000 US dollars. To win the prize money, the amateurs will have to score just one point against the professional. Sounds easy, right? But hey, your opponent most probably is going to be Carlos Alcaraz, who sometimes doesn't even concede a point in a grand slam. Also Watch: LeBron James announces 'Second Decision.' Is he retiring from NBA? The exact details of the competition, such as format, dates, etc. are yet to be announced by the organizers but 'rock, paper & scissors' will be used to determine who will serve and who will receive in the competition. What is the motive behind this challenge? This challenge could be the part of making the year's first grand slam and the game of tennis, in general, popular among youth and inspire others to take it up. The 2026 edition would mark the second year of Australian Open 'One Point Challenge' but the 2025 edition largely went unnoticed. The tennis grand slams are making an extra effort to make the game accessible to more fans, Wimbledon, dubbed as the Championship, brought in many influencers in this year's edition while the US Open staged a revamped mixed doubles to attract more crowd in the arena.

In the challenge 10 amateur players will face 22 professionals to have a shot at winning one million dollars (Australian) or around 660,000 US dollars. To win the prize money, the amateurs will have to score just one point against the professional.

What is Australian Open 'One Point Challenge': Alcaraz to face amateur players for a million dollars

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