The Melbourne Heat Check: Djokovic Hits 100, Sabalenka Dazzles Federer, and Alcaraz Refuses to Blink
If you haven’t been waking up at 3:00 AM to watch tennis, don’t worry. We did it for you.
We are three days into the 2026 Australian Open, and the narrative is already clear: The old guard isn’t dead yet, and the new guard is terrifyingly efficient. While the local Australian crowd is mourning some heartbreaking losses, the global superstars are treating Melbourne Park like their personal practice courts.
Here is the “No-Fluff” roundup of what happened, who survived, and what you need to watch next.
The “Big Three” Storylines
1. Novak Djokovic: The Centurion The man is inevitable. Djokovic secured his 100th match win at the Australian Open by dismantling Pedro Martinez (6-3, 6-2, 6-2). He is now the first man in history to record 100 wins at three different Grand Slams. He looked sharp, bored, and ready for title #25.
2. Carlos Alcaraz: Mr. Perfect (Round 1) The Spaniard is now 20-0 in Grand Slam first-round matches. He swept aside local hope Adam Walton (6-3, 7-6, 6-2). He wasn’t playing his A+ game, but his B-game is still better than 99% of the tour. He moves on to face Yannick Hanfmann on Tuesday.
3. Aryna Sabalenka: The Audition Imagine playing your first round with Roger Federer and Rod Laver sitting in the front row. That was Sabalenka’s Sunday. She admitted she was terrified (“Do not look there, please”), but she still crushed Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (6-4, 6-1). If she was nervous, her forehand didn’t show it.
The Casualties (Who Went Home)
- Alexei Popyrin (AUS): The heartbreak of the tournament so far. The Aussie led 2-1 in sets and had a break in the fifth, but his body betrayed him. He lost a 5-set epic to Alexandre Muller, leaving the home crowd stunned.
- Venus Williams: The legend bowed out early in doubles, marking what feels like the final chapter of an era.
- Sebastian Korda (USA): A shock exit. The talented American was upset by qualifier Michael Zheng in a five-set thriller.
Key Scoreboard: The Ones Who Matter
Men’s Singles (Key R1 Results):
- J. Sinner (ITA) def. H. Gaston (Ret.) — Walkover, barely broke a sweat.
- S. Tsitsipas (GRE) def. S. Mochizuki (4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2) — Scary start, strong finish.
- A. Zverev (GER) def. D. Koepfer (3-1 Sets) — German efficiency.
- B. Shelton (USA) — Through to R2, bringing the noise.
Women’s Singles (Key R1 Results):
- N. Osaka (JPN) def. A. Ruzic — The “Jellyfish” dress is viral, and her game is back.
- E. Raducanu (GBR) — Safely through, silencing the critics for at least 48 hours.
- C. Gauff (USA) — Cruised through her opener.
Timetable: The “Must Watch” Matches (Tuesday, Jan 20)
Note: Times are estimated based on Melbourne scheduling. Check local listings for exact court assignments.
| Match-Up | Round | Est. Time (ET) | The “Man Edit” Take |
| C. Alcaraz (1) vs. Y. Hanfmann | R2 | ~7:00 PM (Mon) | Alcaraz should eat him alive. Expect a highlight reel. |
| A. Sabalenka (2) vs. Z. Bai | R2 | ~4:30 PM (Mon) | Sabalenka is in “Terminator” mode. Don’t blink. |
| A. Zverev (3) vs. A. Muller | R2 | ~11:30 PM (Mon) | Muller just played 5 sets. Zverev will likely run him off the court. |
| C. Norrie (26) vs. E. Nava | R2 | ~9:00 PM (Mon) | A grinder vs. an athletic American. Could go 5 sets. |
Export to Sheets
Heat is rising
We are moving into the “separation days.” The qualifiers are tired, the stars are warmed up, and the heat in Melbourne is rising.
Keep your eyes on Ben Shelton and Coco Gauff. The Americans are looking dangerous, and with Djokovic and Alcaraz on a collision course, we might be seeing the prelude to the greatest final of the decade.
Australian Open 2026: Day 1 Highlights
I selected this video because it provides a visual recap of the Day 1 dominance from Sabalenka and Alcaraz, which sets the stage for the matches happening today.
