Overview
- World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz opens against Australia’s Adam Walton on Rod Laver Arena as he pursues a career Grand Slam.
- Aryna Sabalenka, dominant on hard courts, starts against Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah in the night session on center court.
- Emma Raducanu, seeded 28, faces Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the Margaret Court Arena night slot after Alexander Bublik vs. Jenson Brooksby, and she questioned the wisdom of scheduling a women’s match after a potential five‑setter.
- Raducanu arrives with limited 2026 match play following a recent foot issue and an early Hobart exit, sharpening focus on her readiness.
- Venus Williams enters as a wildcard at 45 and is set to become the oldest woman in the tournament’s main draw, while Matteo Berrettini’s eve‑of‑event withdrawal reshapes the men’s field.