Australian Open 2026: Alcaraz in action after Sabalenka eases through

Alcaraz (1) 1-1 7-6 (7-4) Hanfmann* Hanfmann is winning less than 50% of his second serves and drops another to fall behind early. He shakes that off to take the next two points but, on another second serves, sends a forearm into the net to level things once more.

But the German works Alcaraz around the baseline and induces a backhand into the net and then uses a powerful serve and volley to hold serve.

Alcaraz* (1) 1-0 7-6 (7-4) Hanfmann An apparent medical issue in the crowd delays the start of the second set but eventually we get things underway, with Alcaraz to serve first.

Hanfmann’s attempt to return serve with a backhand goes long to start but he responds by meeting a between the legs shot with a cheeky drop shot that ties things up. Alcaraz wins the next two points to reclaim the initiative and then takes the game by calmly working his way towards the net and deftly depositing a backhand winner.

Alcaraz (1) 7-6 (7-4) Hanfmann Hanfmann serves first but falls behind when Alcaraz fires a backhand winner down the line, only to answer back immediately by ending a long exchange in which he worked his foe around the baseline with yet another deft drop shot.

Alcaraz holds to move ahead 2-1 but can only watch as Hanfmann whips his third ace of the match down the T to keep pace. The top seed then struggles to get a racquet to the next serve that forces him to lunge right but shows his class with a magnificent cross-court forearm winner.

A slice from Hanfmann induces Alcaraz into a slice of his own, only for the latter to hit the net. But the German can’t press forward and is pegged back and then falls behind. Smelling blood, Alcaraz wrongfoots Hanfmann with a backhand down the line to bring up two set points.

He then ends a 78 minute first set by firing across a serve that forces Hanfmann wide an unable to keep his forearm return in.

Alcaraz* (1) 6-6 Hanfmann Two errors from Hanfmann sees Alcaraz race ahead, before he moves to 40-0 with a devastating ace. A cheeky little drop shot from Hanfmann on second serve sees him get on the board but he then sends a backhand well wide. We’re off to a first set tiebreak!

Alcaraz (1) 5-6 Hanfmann* Could Hanfmann regret that error at 15-30 in the last game? Maybe that was playing on his mind as he sends a backhand long to give up the first point and then delivered another backhand error that moved Alcaraz further ahead.

The German gets on the board by forcing Alcaraz deep with a forehand and forcing an error and then moves back level with a powerful first serve the Spaniard can’t send back. A double fault – Hanfmann’s first of the game – brings up break point but he responds exactly how he needs to: firing a powerful ace down the T to bring up deuce.

Hanfmann sees of another break point and then just, just moves into advantage when a forearm sent down the line by the Spaniard sails just wide. More back and forth follows, with both players missing the opportunity to press ahead thanks to errors, as well as a sublime drop shot from Alcaraz to bring up a fifth deuce, but Hanfmann is eventually able to put things together and hold serve.

We’ve already gone past the hour mark in this one. Get the feeling you should settle in, folks.

41m ago04.08 GMT

Alcaraz* (1) 5-5 Hanfmann Alcaraz works Hanfmann around with his first serve and the German ultimately sends a baseline backhand long. The German then responds with a forearm return on second serve that is just kissed down the line and then moves ahead when Alcaraz smashes a baseline forehand into the net. A second serve return backhand gets away from Hanfmann as things get tied up at 30-30, a powerful 206 km/h down the T puts Alcaraz back in the ascendency, and he then takes the game by forcing Hanmann wide and then whipping a backhand down the line.

Alcaraz (1) 4-5 Hanfmann* The longest game of the match thus far is eventually held by the German.

Hanfmann pushes Alcaraz wide with his second serve and his attempted return goes long. The top seed answers back but Hanfmann responds by commandingly serving and moving forwards to set up a big forearm winner.

Alcaraz levels the game with a dominant forearm winner down the line to cap off a big-hitting baseline exchange. A second serve sent straight at Alcaraz forces him to squat straight down to make the return and Hanfmann takes advantage with a powerful forearm sent wide. Hanfmann goes to his second serve again but this time Alcaraz is aggresive with his defending and eventually forces his opponent to fire a backhand into the net and bring up duece.

A 201 km/h serve is just returned by Alcaraz but Hanfmann is already moving forward to smash home a forearm but Alcaraz does well to keep the game alive, as well as see off the next two advantages he’s forced to stare down. Eventually, though, he’s worn down and at the end of a seven-shot baseline exchange he sends a return into the net.

Alcaraz* (1) 4-4 Hanfmann A powerful serve forces Hanfmann to send a backhand into the stands to give the opening point to the top seed but the German answers back by charging towards the net and sending a winner behind Alcaraz. The Spaniard responds with a powerful baseline forearm winner and then forces Hanfmann deep on the following point when his foes sends a backhand into the net. Anther powerful serve can’t be returned by Hanfmann, giving Alcaraz the game.

Alcaraz (1) 3-4 Hanfmann* Hanfmann has his serve cooking early, taking the first three points and capping this run off by moving Alcaraz around the court and firing across a gorgeous cross-court drop shot. Alcaraz is able to get a point back but sends a backhand from the baseline wide on the next serve to give the game to the German.

Alcaraz* (1) 3-3 Hanfmann A baseline battle from Alcaraz’s opening serve ends when Hanfmann sends a forearm long, with Alcaraz then switching things up with a gorgeous and unplayable drop shot. A powerful backhand winner gets the German on the board but Alcaraz quickly fires down two powerful serves that put him in a commanding position to take the next points and hold serve.

Alcaraz (1) 2-3 Hanfmann* A boomerang break; Alcaraz breaks right back.

Hanfmann takes the first point after a seven-shot exchange ends with an Alcaraz backhand going wide. The Spaniard works some powerful shots from the baseline to claim the next two points but a powerful first serve forces him to send a backhand long. An error from Hanfmann brings up break point and Alacaraz then fires a powerful forearm winner down the line to take it, letting out a guttural “Come on!” in celebration.

Alcaraz* (1) 1-3 Hanfmann Hanfmann breaks Alcaraz early in the first set!

The German continues to put early pressure on, a between the legs shot from the Alcaraz sailing out as he moves to 0-30. The Spaniard gets a point back only for his opponent to bring up two break points immediately in response. The top seed survives the first but then double faults to give up the break.

Alcaraz (1) 1-2 Hanfmann* Hanfmann continues his good early work. He takes the first two points but a great forehand return from Alcaraz gets him on the board. A rally then ends with Hanfmann sending a baseline backhand into the net to bring it back to 30-30, only for the German to rocket down a powerful serve that his opponent does will to even get a racquet on, forget sending it back. The German then works the top seed around the, forcing a backhand to be sliced long and wide and taking the game.

Alcaraz* (1) 1-1 Hanfmann Alcaraz is on the board, but he had to work for it!

The top seed starts his first service with a good forearm winner before Hanfmann sends a backhand long. Alacaraz sends a backhand long to give up a point but a return straight into the net puts him back into a commanding position.

However, a great return from Hanfmann keeps him in it and Alacaraz then slices a backhand into the net as he advances, bringing up deuce. The Spaniard spurns an initial advantage and then finds himself starting down an early break. He survives but needs a further three advantages until he can see off the German and take his opening service.

Alcaraz (1) 0-1 Hanfmann* A good start for Hanfmann, working his serve well to take the opening three points before Alcaraz gets to the net and fires across a winner for his first. The German keeps his head, though, firing down a strong first serve that Alcaraz can only send long with his forearm return and taking the opening game.

An absolutely gorgeous day in Melbourne to mark this one… and I’m not just saying that because I live here.

It’s 22 degrees celsius on the court a minute from this one getting underway, which Google tells me is 71.6 in freedom units.

Right, time for the fashion files.

Alcaraz is wearing a bright lime green sleeveless top, combined with shorts that that continue the electric lime down one of his legs. Suspect is hatless, repeat, hatless.

Hanfmann, meanwhile, is observing the local Australian custom of slip, slop, slap – wearing a white hat in combination with a grey tshirt, black shorts, black socks, and black shoes. It’s a no-nonsense outfit.

The music on the broadcast shifts from calming piano to movie trailer beats and soundbites of former champions as Alcaraz and Hanfmann make their way out onto the court.

Scoring highly on the Name Recognition Index™, Alcaraz gets the biggest cheer from the fans as he emerges.

Back on Rod Laver, the newly engaged Hanfmann is starting to go through his final preperations before he heads out to meet the crowd.

A serene ocean backdrop is emblazoned on the video screens surrounding him – probably a contrast to the storm that awaits him on the court.

Around the precinct, Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria has kept his clash with Andrey Rublev (13) alive by taking the third set and Daniil Medvedev (11) is being pressured early by Quentin Halys, who has forced his well-credentialled foe to a tiebreak in the opening set.

Reilly Opelka and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (14) have just got things underway on the Kia Arena, as have Victoria Mboko (17) and Caty McNallyon the 1573 Arena, Polina Kudermetova and Clara Tauson (14) on Court 6, and Tomas Martin Etcheverry and qualifier Arthur Fery on Court 7.

Baptiste has broken Hunter early in their second set on ANZ Arena, while Yulia Putintseva has just completed a comfortable straight sets win over Elsa Jacquemot, claiming the match 6-1, 6-2.

To once again recap the already completed around Melbourne Park today, beyond our featured Sabalenka win.

Elina Svitolina (12) moved past Linda Klimovicova on John Cain Arena, while Francisco Cerundolo (18) and Tommy Paul (19) made relatively quick work of Damir Dzumhur and Thiago Agustin Tirante.

Zeynep Sonmez defeated Anna Bondar in other women’s singles action, as local wildcard Talia Gibson fell to Diana Shnaider (23) and Fabian Marozsanhas moved past Kamil Majchrzak after winning a third set tiebreak.

Aussie pair Lizette Cabrera and Taylah Preston downed Xinyu Wang and Saisai Zheng in the women’s doubles, while the fifth seeded pairing of Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani eased past McCartney Kessler and Jessica Pegula. It won’t take long for Kessler and Pegula to reunite, however: they’re scheduled to face each other in the second round of the women’s singles – Pegula seeded sixth in that draw.

Hanfmann booked his place on Rod Laver Arena today by defeating Zachary Svajda in the first round, taking out a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) win over the American in just under three hours.

It’s the first time that the German has advanced to the second round here in Melbourne since the one and only other time he did so back in 2022, when he eliminated local favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis in straight sets only to be bounced himself by Rafael Nadal.

The only other time he has advanced to the second round of a Grand Slam came at the French Open back in 2023. But alas for his hopes of a third round breakthrough in 2026 he’s now got to deal with Alcaraz.

How did this pair get here?

Alcaraz didn’t have it all his own way but ultimately moved past Queenslander Adam Walton in straight sets in the first round, winning 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 in just over two hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Seeking to claim the one Grand Slam that has so far eluded him in his career – or even just make it past the quarterfinals in Melbourne for just the first time, the men’s top seed and world number one had some praise for the Australian, who broke him in the second set and took him to a tie break.

“It was, I would say, a difficult match for me,” Alcaraz said.

“In the first set, just one break … I think he was playing really good, really solid. I think he was trying to find the position to attack every time he could.

“Then, in the second set I think he found more spots to be aggressive … it was then more complicated for me.”

Ultimately, though, showing his class, the Spaniard ground down his Australian challenger.

“For Alcaraz, I think he moves a bit different to the rest of the guys on the tour,” Walton said.

“He has that extra venom on the short balls and on the balls that sit up a little bit more.

“Anytime he can get set on a forehand, he hits it at a different speed that I’m not used to.”

[Source: The Guardian]