Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz marked impressive performances during the opening day of the Australian Open. The top seeds advanced in straight sets at Rod Laver Arena, which drew a remarkable crowd of 100,763 fans across Melbourne Park.
Historic Moments of the Day
This year’s tournament witnessed a historic achievement by Venus Williams. At 45, she became the oldest player ever to compete in the women’s singles draw at the Australian Open. However, her run ended in a tough match against Olga Danilovic. The final scores were 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, following Williams initially leading with two service breaks.
Sabalenka and Alcaraz Shine
- Aryna Sabalenka: Defeated Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4, 6-1.
- Carlos Alcaraz: Overcame Adam Walton with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
Sabalenka, who won the title in 2023 and 2024 and was the runner-up last year, faced a challenging start. Despite dropping her opening service game, she expressed satisfaction with her performance. Alcaraz, aiming for a record as the youngest player to achieve a career Grand Slam, showcased his talent and determination during his match.
Round Highlights
Additional notable performances included:
- Alexander Zverev: Advanced after a comeback victory against Gabriel Diallo (6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2).
- Emma Raducanu: Defeated Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1.
- Frances Tiafoe: Overpowered Jason Kubler with a score of 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2.
- Michael Zheng: Won a tight five-set match against Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (0), 6-3.
Women’s Singles Eliminations
Two seeded players exited the tournament on Day 1. Elsa Jacquemot defeated No. 20 Marta Kostyuk, while Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sönmez triumphed over No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Next Matches
As the tournament progresses, Coco Gauff is set to begin her campaign on Monday against Kamilla Rakhimova. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic will also take to the court in night matches.
The excitement of the Australian Open continues with each match bringing new possibilities and dramatic stories.
