Serve On SI

The 5 Best Highlights From Day 1 of the Australian Open

The main draw of the 2026 Australian Open kicked off with several exciting moments.
Pat Benson|
Emma Raducanu during her first round match of the 2026 Australian Open.
Emma Raducanu during her first round match of the 2026 Australian Open. | IMAGO / AAP

The first day of the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open is in the books, and it did not disappoint. Some fans were up all night, struggling to navigate the labyrinth of paywalls to watch the matches. Others are playing catch-up on highlights this morning.

There were a few unexpected outcomes and plenty of exhilarating moments on the courts in Melbourne. Below are the five biggest highlights from Day 1 of the 2026 Australian Open.

Olga Danilovic Survives Venus Williams

Playing professional tennis at 45 years old is unbelievable; almost beating the WTA World No. 69 is on another level. Olga Danilovic survived a scare from Venus Williams in three sets: 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4.

Danilovic was down 0-4 in the third set and proceeded to win six consecutive games. Williams looked extremely sharp and proved she deserved every wild card entry she receives this season.

Marta Kostyuk Suffers Injury and Upset

Elsa Jacquemot saved a match point in the second set and came back to defeat Marta Kostuk in a 3.5-hour thriller: 6–7(4), 7–6(4), 7–6(7). However, Kostyuk rolled her ankle at 5-6 (30-0). The Ukrainian star has already pulled out of her doubles match and is finished in Melbourne.

Qualifier Shocks World No. 11

Qualifier Zeynep Sönmez upset the 11-seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets: 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Sönmez trailed 1-3 in the decider before a pivotal save turned the momentum of the match and eventually vaulted her into the second round. Even better, the Turkish star showed class by helping a ball girl who fainted from heat exhaustion.

Carlos Alcaraz's First Match With New Coach

Carlos Alcaraz shocked the sport in December when he parted ways with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. Making matters more challenging, Alcaraz did not play any warm-up tournaments before starting his season at a Grand Slam he has struggled at throughout his career. Yet, the first match of the Samuel López era was a success. Alcaraz beat Adam Walton in straight sets: 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-2.

Emma Raducanu's Lighthearted Joke

Many tennis fans are still a little shaken by Emma Raducanu's scary encounter with a "fixated fan" last year. However, Raducanu is not letting that stop her from interacting with fans and making lighthearted jokes about the matter.

Raducanu shouted out to a fan who nicknamed her "Raddo" and joked, "You're invited to every match. Just let my agent know you're here." This came during on-court interview after defeating Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straight sets: 6-4, 6-1.

The 2026 Australian Open runs through January 31 for the women and February 1 for the men. Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Serve On SI for all of your tennis style news from the court and beyond.

More Tennis News

Alex de Minaur starts his partnership with Wilson at the Australian Open.

Coco Gauff debuted her New Balance kit for the Australian Open.

Jannik Sinner showed frustration with his new racket.

Aryna Sabalenka discussed her rivalry with Iga Swiatek.

Coco Gauff dealt a brutal draw at the Australian Open.

Published
Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

Share on XFollow Pat_Benson_Jr
Home/News