Top-ranked Alcaraz, Sabalenka headline Australian Open day one
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The furthest the world number one has gone at the opening major of the year is the quarter-finals and he has made it clear that dethroning rival Jannik Sinner as champion is his main aim for 2026
MELBOURNE (AFP/Reuters) – Carlos Alcaraz launches his bid for tennis history while women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka is also in action on the first day of the Australian Open on Sunday.
Last year's beaten finalist Alexander Zverev and 45-year-old Venus Williams, who is set to become the oldest woman ever at the tournament, also feature.
In early matches, seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini outclassed Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1, 6-2 on a hot and sunny Rod Laver Arena.
Ukraine's 26th seed Dayana Yastremska was an immediate casualty, losing 6-4, 7-5 to Romania's Gabriela Ruse.
Spain's Alcaraz has won the US Open, Wimbledon and French Open but the Melbourne Park crown is the one Grand Slam missing from his impressive resume.
The furthest the world number one has gone at the opening major of the year is the quarter-finals and he has made it clear that dethroning rival Jannik Sinner as champion is his main aim for 2026.
If he does so, the 22-year-old would surpass compatriot Rafael Nadal to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, which is winning all four majors.
"I'm just hungry for the title, hungry to do a really good result here," said the six-time major winner.
"I'm just getting ready as much as I can. I'm really excited about the tournament beginning."
Alcaraz launches his title charge against 79th-ranked home player Adam Walton in the final match of the day on Rod Laver Arena.
Germany's third-ranked Zverev, beaten by Sinner in the final a year ago, starts against Gabriel Diallo of Canada.
Opening the night session on Rod Laver Arena is Sabalenka, who is aiming to win a third Melbourne crown in four years.
The Belarusian suffered a surprise defeat to American Madison Keys in a thrilling final 12 months ago.
Sabalenka, who plays French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, triumphed at the Brisbane International last week in an ominous statement of intent.
"I can't complain about my start of the season. I think I played some great matches there, showed great tennis," said the 27-year-old.
Veteran Williams is back in Melbourne for the first time since 2021 after being handed a wildcard and faces a tough task against 68th-ranked Olga Danilovic of Serbia.
Now ranked 576, the former world number one lost in the opening round of both of her warm-up events and has played only sporadically in recent years.
"This is the greatest place on Earth to play," said Williams.
"I have had amazing memories here. I love challenges, so I'm up for the challenge."
Also in action on Sunday are men's 10th seed Alexander Bublik and women's 12th seed Elina Svitolina, who both won warm-up tournaments leading into the Australian Open.
Fans frustrated by long queues, ticket sales halt
Australian Open organizers came under fire on the Grand Slam's opening day on Sunday as frustrated fans sweated in long queues to the gates of Melbourne Park and complained of confusion over the suspension of ticket sales.
With heightened security at the event in the wake of the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney last month, hundreds of spectators gathered outside the venue in hot weather before tournament officials paused sales of the cheaper "ground pass" tickets within the first hour of play due to intense demand.
Ground passes, which cost A$65 ($43) for adults during day sessions, allow largely unfettered access to the minor courts and are hugely popular at the year's first Grand Slam.
Tournament director Craig Tiley confirmed in the morning that only the more expensive tickets to the main showcourts were available but fans were oblivious as they queued for extended periods outside the venue.
Josh Main, a visitor from the Netherlands, said the experience was a letdown during a family trip that coincided with the Grand Slam.
“We went to look for tickets but there was a big line, so I thought, are we in the right line?” he told Reuters. “They told us there are no tickets left, so we can’t get in.
"They did say there were tickets left for Rod Laver (Arena) but we’re not going to sit there today and it’s expensive ... I think they said it was 300 bucks or something."
Local fans also voiced disappointment, with Melbourne resident Elton Yu surprised to find ground passes unavailable.
“Never expected to not have any tickets for the ground pass which I always do,” he told Reuters.
Susan Walsh, another Melbourne resident, said she and her group had already purchased arena tickets but hoped to enter earlier.
“We tried to buy a ground pass and they just told us it was only tickets that were $229 per person,” she said. “Didn’t want to spend that much money ... So, a bit disappointed.”
Tiley said the sales halt was just for the Sunday day session and that there were ground passes available for the evening.
“We’ve had to pause them because obviously we want people to come on site and have a great time,” he told reporters.
"There’s still the 'After 5' (o'clock) ground passes available, which is $49, come on-site for that."
Governing body Tennis Australia did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
