Australian Open to begin with Alcaraz seeking first Melbourne title

Australian Open 2026 Begins Sunday With Alcaraz and Sabalenka Headlining

The 2026 Australian Open kicks off Sunday at Melbourne Park with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka leading the charge in the night session at Rod Laver Arena. Alcaraz will face Australian Adam Walton in his first-round match, while Sabalenka takes on French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah as the first Grand Slam of the season gets underway.atptour

The tournament features multiple historic storylines. Jannik Sinner, seeded second, is seeking to become the first man since Novak Djokovic to win three consecutive Australian Open titles after claiming the trophy in both 2024 and 2025. Alcaraz, meanwhile, is chasing his first Australian Open crown, which would make him the youngest man in history to complete a career Grand Slam at age 22, surpassing his idol Rafael Nadal.cbssports

Alcaraz Enters Without Longtime Coach

The 22-year-old Spaniard enters Melbourne under a spotlight following his shock split from longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero during the off-season. Alcaraz worked with Ferrero since he was 15, winning six Grand Slam titles under his guidance, but described the separation as “a chapter of life that has to end”. Samuel López, previously Alcaraz’s assistant coach, has stepped into the lead role.bbc

“I have the same team that I had last year, just one member missing,” Alcaraz said Friday. “Everything is pretty much the same. We didn’t change any routine at all”.tennis

Alcaraz has never advanced past the quarterfinals in Melbourne but insists the Australian Open is “my main goal for this year”.espn

Djokovic Chases Record, Williams Makes History

Novak Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion seeded fourth, is pursuing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title that would break his tie with Margaret Court. The 38-year-old Serbian, who reached the semifinals at all four majors last year only to lose three of them to Sinner and Alcaraz, opens against Spain’s Pedro Martinez and could face Sinner in a potential semifinal blockbuster.olympics

On the women’s side, Sabalenka is seeking to reclaim the title she won in 2023 and 2024 after falling to Madison Keys in last year’s final. No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek is also chasing history, with the Australian Open the only major missing from her collection.espn

Venus Williams, 45, will become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw when she faces Olga Danilovic on Sunday night, surpassing Japan’s Kimiko Date’s record from 2015. Williams returns to Melbourne for the first time since 2021 after receiving a wildcard entry.cbsnews

Opening Day Schedule

Third seed Alexander Zverev, last year’s finalist, headlines the day session on Sunday against Canada’s Gabriel Diallo. The tournament runs through February 1, with the women’s final scheduled for January 31 and the men’s final the following day.atptour