Australian Open 2026 Day 1: Every result from Day 1

Day One featured thrilling matches, including Alexander Zverev overcoming Gabriel Diallo and Aryna Sabalenka dominating Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah.

Alexander Zverev won his first round match beating Gabriel Diallo in four sets

The 2026 Australian Open roared into life on Sunday, January 18, with a record-breaking 73,000 fans flooding Melbourne Park. Day One delivered everything a Grand Slam opener promises: grueling marathons, vintage displays from legends, and a series of upsets that immediately shook the bracket.

How to watch the Australian Open in India?

Fans across India can follow Djokovic’s journey through SonyLIV, accessible via OTTplay Premium. Coverage typically begins daily at 5.30 AM IST and 10 AM IST at Rod Laver Arena.

Zverev survives, Sabalenka stomps

The day's marquee matches on Rod Laver Arena saw the big names tested but ultimately triumphant. Alexander Zverev last year’s runner-up, had to dig deep against Canada’s Gabriel Diallo.2 After dropping a tight first-set tiebreak, the German found his rhythm, unleashing 15 aces to secure a 3$6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2$ victory.

On the women’s side, top seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka began her quest for a hat-trick with a 6-4, 6-1 win over French qualifier Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah.

While the scoreline looked comfortable, Rajaonah pushed the world No. 1 early, forcing Sabalenka to fend off break points before the Belarusian’s power eventually overwhelmed the debutante.

Read also: AO 2026 Men’s draw: Sinner braced for early hurdles in pursuit of three-peat.

Venus Williams makes history

At 45 years old, Venus Williams became the oldest woman ever to compete in the Australian Open main draw.6 Facing Olga Danilović, Williams turned back the clock in the opening set, clinching a tense tiebreak 7-6(5).7 Though the match was still unfolding as the sun set over Melbourne, her signature backhand winners drew the loudest roars of the day.

Meanwhile, a historic marathon occurred on the outside courts. Elsa Jacquemot ousted the 20th seed Marta Kostyuk in a match that lasted three hours and 31 minutes, the longest women’s match at the AO since 2019.8 In a rare statistical feat, all three sets were decided by tiebreaks, with Jacquemot prevailing 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-6[10-7].

Read also: 5 biggest sports events to watch out for in 2026

The upsets: Seeds falling early

The first day is often a graveyard for seeds, and 2026 was no exception.

As the night session continues, all eyes are on Carlos Alcaraz who faces home favorite Adam Walton. Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu is set to begin her campaign, hoping to recapture the magic of her US Open run. With the temperature expected to remain in the high 20s, fitness and hydration will remain the invisible opponents for every player on court.-

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