The 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne delivered a mix of heartbreak and commanding performances in its opening days, with Filipino hope Alex Eala making an early exit while world number one Aryna Sabalenka showcased her champion's mentality.
Eala's Rollercoaster Match Ends in Disappointment
Alex Eala's campaign came to a crushing halt on Monday, January 19, 2026, despite a dream start on Court 6. The 49th-ranked player from the Philippines thrilled a vocal Filipino crowd by sweeping the first set 6-0 against American Alycia Parks, who is ranked 100th in the world.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically over the nearly two-hour battle. Parks, known for her powerful serve, found her rhythm and fired eight aces to wrestle control of the match. Eala ultimately lost her grip, falling 6-0, 3-6, 2-6 in the first round.
Eala is now set to shift her focus to the doubles competition, where she will partner with Brazil's Ingrid Martins. Their first match is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, against the duo of Japan's Shuko Aoyuma and Poland's Magda Linette.
Top Seeds Assert Dominance on Opening Nights
While Eala faced defeat, the tournament's top favorites began their journeys with authority. On Sunday night, Aryna Sabalenka displayed fierce determination to overcome an early service break against wild-card entrant Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. The world number one gritted her way to a 6-4, 6-1 victory in a match witnessed by tennis legends Rod Laver and Roger Federer.
On the same night, Carlos Alcaraz started his quest for a career Grand Slam with a straight-sets win, defeating Adam Walton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
The opening day was historic, marked by a record-breaking attendance of over 100,000 fans. It also featured a milestone appearance by 45-year-old Venus Williams, who became the oldest player in the women's singles draw. Despite holding a lead in the third set, Williams eventually fell to Olga Danilovic 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.
Mixed Fortunes for Other Contenders
The trend of top seeds advancing continued into Monday. Third seed Coco Gauff secured a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win over Kamilla Rakhimova. Other women's seeds like Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Clara Tauson also progressed in straight sets.
However, the tournament saw notable upsets. Former champion Sofia Kenin was ousted by Peyton Stearns, and 15th seed Emma Navarro was eliminated by Magda Linette.
On the men's side, seventh-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime was forced to retire from his match against Nuno Borges while trailing in the third set. In contrast, veterans like Daniil Medvedev continued their strong Australian form, and local favorite Alex de Minaur moved convincingly into the second round.
The Australian Open 2026 has already provided dramatic storylines, from the resilience of top contenders to the agonizing near-misses of fan favorites. All eyes will now be on how the remaining players navigate the path to the finals.
