ALCARAZ ROARS INTO AUSTRALIAN OPEN SECOND ROUND
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz made a confident start to his 2026 Australian Open campaign, dispatching Australia’s Adam Walton in straight sets to reach the second round at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night.
The young Spaniard cruised to a 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-2 victory in front of a raucous home crowd, keeping alive his bid to complete a career Grand Slam: The one major that’s still eluded him so far in Melbourne.
Alcaraz wasn’t always sharp. He made more unforced errors than his 81st-ranked opponent, but his powerful serve, athletic shot-making and mental toughness ultimately carried the day.
He hit eight aces and finished with 38 winners, showing glimpses of the form that’s seen him lift six major titles already in his career.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who has yet to get past the quarter-finals in four previous Australian Opens, admitted it felt “great to get back out there,” especially since this was his first competitive match of the season after a long lay-off.
He’ll now face Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann in the second round.
That straight-sets win also extended Alcaraz’s incredible first-round Slam record. He’s now 20-0 in opening matches at majors, a streak that puts him in rare company among tennis greats.
Despite the solid scoreline, there were a few moments when Walton made life tough for the top seed, especially early in the second set, before Alcaraz regained control and dominated the tiebreak.
With the first hurdle cleared, all eyes will be on Alcaraz in the coming days as he chases that maiden Australian Open crown.
Image credit: BBC