Australian Open 2026: Alcaraz and Sabalenka showcase their strength on opening day.
Top title contenders such as Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Aryna Sabalenka began their quest to conquer Melbourne Park with one-sided matches.
The 2026 Australian Open officially kicked off with the spotlight on the top seeded players. On the first day of competition, the biggest names, such as Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Aryna Sabalenka, all took to the field aiming to quickly defeat their lower-ranked opponents and solidify their status as contenders for the championship.
Carlos Alcaraz: Ambitious to complete a Career Grand Slam by the age of 22
World number one Carlos Alcaraz begins his Melbourne campaign with a match against home favorite Adam Walton. This pairing highlights a clear disparity in every aspect, from form to experience in major tournaments.
Alcaraz just concluded a brilliant 2025 with 8 titles, including 2 Grand Slams and 3 Masters 1000 championships. Despite not participating in any official ATP Tour events leading up to the Australian Open, the Spanish player maintained his good form, defeating both Jannik Sinner and Alex De Minaur in recent exhibition matches.
Conversely, Adam Walton is in poor form, having been eliminated early at the Brisbane International and in the Adelaide qualifying rounds. With a 1-0 head-to-head record in favor of Alcaraz and superior movement on hard courts, the 22-year-old star is predicted to win 3-0, moving closer to the only Grand Slam title missing from his collection.
Alexander Zverev and the pressure to defend his lead.
Third seed Alexander Zverev will face Gabriel Diallo (Canada) in his opening match. As last season's runner-up, Zverev is under considerable pressure to defend his significant points at Melbourne Park this year.
Despite a less-than-ideal start to the 2026 season in the United Cup, Zverev is still considered one of the world's top hard-court specialists. In 2025, he boasted an impressive record of 33 wins on this surface.
His opponent, Gabriel Diallo, possesses a formidable weapon: a thunderous serve. However, Zverev's consistency and extensive experience in the early rounds are expected to help him neutralize the Canadian's playing style. A 3-0 victory is the most likely scenario for the 2025 runner-up.
Aryna Sabalenka: The absolute power of a champion
In the women's singles, world number one Aryna Sabalenka begins her title defense against Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah (world number 118). The gap in skill level between the two players is enormous.
Sabalenka is enjoying a devastating run of form on hard courts, with 37 wins and only 7 losses in the last 12 months. Her latest victory at the Brisbane International is clear evidence of her perfect preparation ahead of the Australian Open.
Besides her powerful forehand shots, Sabalenka's ability to dictate the game is expected to leave her opponent from Madagascar with no chance of causing an upset. Experts believe Sabalenka will close out the match in just two sets to conserve energy for the later, more advanced rounds.
