Alcaraz arrives hungry in Melbourne and Sabalenka is ready to defend their biggest ambitions over two long weeks of tennis.
The Australian Open has shifted to a 15-day format again to cut down on late-night drama, and the draw gives fans blockbuster possibilities as stars from both tours prepare for a stern test under the lights.
Alcaraz Aims For The Missing Title
This is my main goal for this year,
Carlos Alcaraz
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz is chasing the only major missing from his collection and arrives in Melbourne keen to rewrite his Aussie record after several early exits in previous visits to the city.
He already owns two French Opens, two US Opens and two Wimbledons, and a successful fortnight would put him in elite company alongside Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Rod Laver as just the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.
Alcaraz opened on Rod Laver Arena against local Adam Walton and closed the match in straight sets, showing a mixture of touch and power in a scoreline that reflected control from start to finish while he returned to match rhythm after no lead-up tournaments.
The win also extended a remarkable streak: he’s now 20-0 in his career in first-round matches at the Grand Slams, a tidy stat that underlines how the Spaniard tends to arrive ready for the deep waters of slam tennis.
There was theatre beyond the numbers as Alcaraz produced a jaw-dropping volley that silenced the packed arena and sent the crowd into a roar, a moment captured by commentators and reported widely after a convincing opener that doubled as his first match victory of the season.
Men’s Draw: Sinner, Djokovic And The Road To The Final
Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner is a major roadblock in the men’s half after his run last year and a Wimbledon title, and he begins against France’s Hugo Gaston with all the physical work of the off-season clearly in view.
Sinner made no secret of his preparations, saying, “We worked a lot physically,” and stressing that modern slams demand durability and depth with, “The physical part now is so, so important because the matches can get very long and also very intense.”
Novak Djokovic remains a looming figure too, a ten-time Australian champion capable of upending the young order, and the Serb could move past Margaret Court as the outright Slam leader on 25 titles should he navigate his section and lift another major in Melbourne.
Djokovic faces a tricky opener versus Spain’s Pedro Martinez, while other seeds such as Alexander Zverev and Alexander Bublik have testing early matches, meaning the draw could still produce several shocks before the business end of the fortnight.
Women: Sabalenka Favoured, Swiatek And Keys In The Mix
On the women’s side Aryna Sabalenka arrives as top seed and a hot favourite after clinching the Brisbane title, and she will be aiming to add a third Australian crown after the disappointment of last year.
Sabalenka admitted the previous final hurt, saying, “I’m not really focusing on that result last year,” and added, “But of course I would like to do just a little bit better than I did last year,” showing a focused and remade mindset heading into the draw.
Madison Keys, who stunned Sabalenka in last year’s final, has struggled for consistency and recorded nearly 50 unforced errors in the Adelaide warm-up, raising questions about whether she can sustain a deep run in a demanding draw.
Keys will start against debutant Oleksandra Oliynykova and could encounter Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova in later rounds, while the American herself said, “I’m really trying to push myself to kind of evolve and add more things to my game,” highlighting her intent to improve rapidly.
Sabalenka’s chief rival on paper is Iga Swiatek, herself no stranger to major success, and Swiatek admitted, “Obviously it would be a dream come true” to complete the career Slam in Melbourne as she seeks to go beyond her previous semi-final efforts.
There are veterans and dark horses sprinkled throughout the draw, from Elena Svitolina and Venus Williams to rising seeds such as Jasmine Paolini, which means the fortnight will be a mix of expected runs and potential upsets across both tours.
Expect the early sessions to set the tone: form, fitness and a few headline moments will carve the path to the second week, and while favourites carry pressure, they also carry the kind of game needed to survive tight Grand Slam tests.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
