Australian Open: no Venus Williams fairy tale as Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka win openers
Hong Kong Open champion Alexander Bublik also advances, as does Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan, though compatriot Zhang Zhizhen is out
Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka launched their Australian Open title bids with straight-sets wins, but there was no fairy tale for 45-year-old Venus Williams on Sunday.
On a hot Melbourne day in which a ball girl fainted, last year’s men’s beaten finalist Alexander Zverev dropped a set before easing into the second round.
World No 1 Alcaraz joined him, the Spaniard beating 81st-ranked home player Adam Walton 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
Alcaraz, who is desperate to win the Australian Open to complete the career grand slam of all four majors, plays Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann next.
Sabalenka began her bid for a third Australian Open title in four years with a patchy start before coming good in the second set.
The world No 1, stunned by Madison Keys in the 2025 final, ultimately had too much power, guile and quality for French wild card Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, winning 6-4, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena.