Day one of the Australian Open is rarely about trophies. It is about nerves. About surviving and advancing. About players attempting to steady themselves under heavy expectations as the year’s first Grand Slam finally begins.

For Carlos Alcaraz, that weight was clear the moment he set foot onto Rod Laver Arena.

The world No. 1 opened his 2026 campaign with a straight-sets win over Australian wildcard Adam Walton, moving efficiently and with purpose as he began another attempt at conquering the only major that has so far eluded him. There were no theatrics and no scares, just a reminder that when Alcaraz is locked in, few players can match his pace or imagination. The draw will stiffen soon enough, but day one was about setting a tone.

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Aryna Sabalenka did much the same.

The two-time defending champion shook off an early challenge from French qualifier Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah before asserting herself in a 6-4, 6-1 victory under the lights. Sabalenka’s power eventually told, as it so often does in Melbourne, where her game has proven uniquely suited to the conditions. It was not flawless, but it was controlled — exactly what a top seed hopes for in an opening match.

Elsewhere, the tournament’s familiar unpredictability made its presence felt.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev dropped the opening set against Canada’s Gabriel Diallo before regrouping to advance in four. On the women’s side, 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova was sent out by Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez, whose composure never wavered even as play was briefly halted when a ball kid fainted in the heat. Sonmez paused to help before finishing off the biggest win of her career, a moment that resonated beyond the scoreline.

There was history, too.

Venus Williams, competing in the Australian Open main draw at 45 years old, became the oldest woman ever to do so. She pushed Serbia’s Olga Danilović to three sets, showing flashes of the resolve that defined her career, before falling in a hard-fought loss. Williams led deep into the deciding set, and for a moment, it felt possible. In the end, the result mattered less than the reminder of what she has given the sport — and how much of herself she still brings onto the court.

The grounds themselves told another story.

A record crowd poured into Melbourne Park, prompting organizers to halt ground-pass sales as fans waited in long lines under the sun. The Australian Open has always prided itself on accessibility, but day one offered a glimpse of just how popular — and how stretched — the event has become.
By night’s end, many favorites had moved on, a few contenders were already gone, and the tournament had begun to take shape. That is the rhythm of the first day in Melbourne: not conclusions, but beginnings.

The Australian Open does not crown champions on day one. It asks questions instead. Some players answered. Others will not get the chance again.