Top Seeds Face Early Tests in Melbourne Heat
Aryna Sabalenka launched her quest for a third Australian Open title in four years on Sunday. The world number one and tournament favorite did not have an easy start. She faced a spirited challenge from French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah before securing a 6-4, 6-1 victory on Rod Laver Arena.
Sabalenka admitted the match presented unique difficulties. "It is always tricky playing someone young, someone you don't know, and a lefty," she said after the win. The Belarusian star needed time to settle into her rhythm, making several unforced errors early on. She was still feeling the sting from her loss to Madison Keys in the 2025 final.
The 20-year-old Rajaonah played with impressive freedom and energy. However, Sabalenka's superior power, experience, and shot selection ultimately decided the contest. The top seed also felt extra pressure with tennis legends Roger Federer and Rod Laver watching from courtside. "I hope you guys enjoyed watching me play," Sabalenka remarked during her on-court interview, addressing the icons directly.
Zverev Battles Back in Sweltering Conditions
Earlier in the day, third seed Alexander Zverev also survived a stern test. He dropped the first set to Canada's Gabriel Diallo, who is ranked 41st in the world. The German looked vulnerable for a moment before rallying strongly. He won the next three sets to complete a 6-7 (1/7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 comeback victory.
Zverev was frank about his early struggles. When asked how he turned the match around, last year's runner-up stated bluntly, "I was thinking it can't get worse than that." The intense heat in Melbourne added another layer of challenge to the contest.
Record Crowd and On-Court Drama
Tournament organizers confirmed a historic daytime attendance of 73,235 fans. This figure set a new record for the Australian Open. However, the large crowd led to complaints about long queues at the entrance gates.
The extreme conditions were highlighted during the match between Zeynep Sonmez and Ekaterina Alexandrova. A ball girl fainted on court as temperatures neared 30 degrees Celsius. Both players immediately rushed to her aid, showing great sportsmanship.
Mixed Fortunes for Other Seeds
The opening day saw varied results for other seeded players. Some women's seeds enjoyed straightforward progress.
- Seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini cruised past Aliaksandra Sasnovich with a 6-1, 6-2 scoreline.
- Ukraine's 12th seed Elina Svitolina advanced comfortably, defeating Spain's Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-1.
However, the day was not without surprises. Several seeded players suffered early exits.
- British qualifier Arthur Fery produced a major upset. He stunned 20th seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy, winning 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-1.
- Ukraine's 26th seed Dayana Yastremska was eliminated by Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse, losing 6-4, 7-5.
- Another Ukrainian, Marta Kostyuk, also fell at the first hurdle. She lost in three sets to France's Elsa Jacquemot.
Alcaraz Aims for Career Grand Slam
Attention later shifted to Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-year-old Spaniard was scheduled to face world number 79 Adam Walton in the final match on Rod Laver Arena. Alcaraz has already won the US Open, Wimbledon, and the French Open. The Australian Open remains the only Grand Slam title missing from his collection.
His best performance in Melbourne so far is a quarter-final appearance. Alcaraz has openly expressed his desire to dethrone reigning champion Jannik Sinner in 2026. If he succeeds, he would surpass Rafael Nadal to become the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam.
Venus Williams Makes Historic Return
Venus Williams prepared to make history on day one. The 45-year-old American received a wildcard entry, marking her return to Melbourne for the first time since 2021. She is now the oldest woman ever to compete at the Australian Open.
Currently ranked 576th in the world, the former number one faces a tough opening match against Serbia's 69th-ranked Olga Danilovic. Williams was knocked out in the first round of both her warm-up tournaments and has played very little tennis in recent seasons.
Setting the Stage for an Exciting Fortnight
Day one delivered intense heat, historic moments, and early surprises. It set a compelling tone for the rest of the tournament. Fellow title contenders Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are scheduled to begin their campaigns on Monday.
Sabalenka will next face either Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan. Zverev will meet either Australia's Alexei Popyrin or France's Alexandre Muller in the second round.
The Australian Open promises another two weeks of gripping tennis action, with top players navigating challenges from the start.
