Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev overcame shaky starts to win their Australian Open first-round matches on a record-attendance day in Melbourne.
MELBOURNE: Aryna Sabalenka launched her bid for a third Australian Open title in four years with a patchy performance on Sunday.
The world number one ultimately overpowered French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena.
“It is always tricky playing someone young, someone you don’t know, and a lefty,” said the top seed.
Sabalenka said she felt added pressure with tennis legends Roger Federer and Rod Laver watching from courtside.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev celebrates after his victory against Canada’s Gabriel Diallo during their men’s singles match on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 18, 2026. – AFP
Alexander Zverev also overcame a shaky start to reach the second round.
The third seed recovered from losing the first set to defeat Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 6-7 (1/7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
“I was thinking it can’t get worse than that,” Zverev said of his first-set wobble.
Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and 12th seed Elina Svitolina also progressed safely.
The seeds did not have it all their own way, however, as British qualifier Arthur Fery upset 20th seed Flavio Cobolli.
Organisers reported a record daytime attendance of 73,235, though there were complaints about long queues.
Play continued in hot conditions close to 30C, where a ball girl fainted during one match.
Later on Sunday, world number one Carlos Alcaraz began his campaign against Australia’s Adam Walton.
Alcaraz aims to dethrone champion Jannik Sinner and complete a career Grand Slam by winning the only major missing from his resume.
Veteran Venus Williams also returned to Melbourne for the first time since 2021.
The 45-year-old wildcard, set to become the oldest woman ever at the tournament, faced a tough task against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic.
