World number one and reigning two-time champion Aryna Sabalenkova will open her 2026 Australian Open campaign in Melbourne on Sunday against French wild card Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. In the men’s draw, top seed and world number one Carlos Alcaraz begins his quest for a first Australian Open crown – and a career Grand Slam – when he takes on Australian hopeful Adam Walton.
Meanwhile, two-time Australian Open finalist Venus Williams will make history after receiving a wild card. The 45-year-old American will become the oldest woman to enter a Grand Slam singles main draw when she takes on Serbian Olga Danilovic.
Australian Open 2026: Complete coverage
Apart from these stars, Alexander Zverev will face Gabriel Diallo at the start of his campaign, Emma Raducanu will face Mananchaya Sawangkaew on Sunday.
Iga Swiatek will be a clear challenge for Sabalenka for the crown as they reignite their on-court rivalry. But she wasn’t ready to rule out the other women in the mix and their Melbourne title credentials.
“I think it’s not really just me and Iza,” Sabalenka said. “She’s here, yes… It’s Coco (Gauff), Elena (Rybakina), Jessica (Pegula). I just don’t want to forget anyone right now.”
“But it’s crazy to think we only played once last year. I hope we play more this season.”
for Alcaraz, he made his intentions quite clear. He wants to win his first Australian Open title.
“I’m hungry for the title, hungry to get a really good result here,” Alcaraz said.
Australian Open 2026 Day 1: Full schedule
Rod Laver Arena
Women’s Singles – (Q) aliaksandra sasnovich vs (7) Jasmine Paolini (now) – 6:00 am ist
Men’s Singles – (3) Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. Gabriel Diallo (CAN)
Women’s Singles – (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs (WC) Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (FRA) – 1:30 PM IST
Men’s Singles – (1) Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs. Adam Walton (AUS)
Margaret Court Arena
Women’s singles – Maria Sakkari (GRE) vs. Leolia Jeanjean (FRA) – 6:00 am IST
Men’s Singles – (18) Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) vs. Zhizhen Zhang (CHN)
Men, singles – (10) Alexander Bublik (KAZ) vs. Jenson Brooksby (USA) – 1:30 PM IST
Women’s Singles – Mananchaya Sawankaew vs (28) Emma Radcannu (GBR)
John Cain Arena
Men’s Singles – (Q) Arthur Fery (GBR) vs (20) Flavio Cobolli (ITA) – 5.30am IST
Women’s singles – (12) Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs. Cristina Bucsa (ESP) – 8:00 AM IST at the earliest
Men’s Singles – (29) Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs (Q) Jason Kubler (AUS) – 11:30 AM IST
Women’s Singles – Olga Danilovic (SRB) vs (WC) Venus Williams (USA)
It’s Arena
Women’s Singles – (WC) Talia Gibson (AUS) Vs. Anna Blink – 5:30 am IST
Men’s Singles – Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) vs (32) Corentin Moutet (FRA)
Men’s Singles – (Q) Michael Zheng (USA) vs. Sebastian Korda (USA) – Not before 10:00 am IST
Women’s Singles – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs (Q) Zhuoxuan Bai (CHN)
1573 Arena
Men’s singles – Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) – 5:30 IST
Women’s Singles – (11) Ekaterina Alexandrova vs (Q) Zeynep Sonmez (TUR)
Men’s Singles – Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) vs (26) Cameron Norrie (GBR)
ANZ Arena
Women, singles – (26) Dayana Yastremska (UKR) vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse (Romania) – 5:30 IST
Women’s Singles – Elsa Jacquemot (FRA) vs (20) Marta Kostyuk (UKR)
Men’s singles – Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG) vs. Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
Women’s singles – Suzan Lamens (NED) vs. Anastasia Potapova (AUT)
Court 6
Women’s Singles – Yulia Putintseva (Kaz) Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) – 5.30am IT
Men’s Singles – Emilio Nava (USA) vs (WC) Kyrian Jacquet (FRA)
Men’s Singles – Yannick Hanfmann (GER) vs (Q) Zachary Svajda (USA)
Court 7
Men’s Singles – (WC) Patrick Kypson (USA) vs. Francisco Comesana (ARG) – 8:30 IST
Women’s Singles – Polina Kudermetova (UZB) vs (Q) Guiomar Maristany Zuleta De Reales (ESP)
Court 8
Women’s Singles – Caty McNally (USA) vs (Q) Himeno Sakatsume (JPN) – 7:30 AM IST
Men’s Singles – (Q) Liam Draxl (CAN) Vs. Damir Dzumhur (BiH)
Court 13
Women’s Singles – Hailey Baptiste (USA) vs (32) Markéta Vondrousová (CZE) – 8:30am IST
Men’s Singles – (LL) Alexander Blockx (BEL) vs (Q) Jamie Faria (POR)
– The end
Published on:
January 17, 2026