Carlos Alcaraz withstood a barrage of massive hitting from a well-known foe in Yannick Hanfmann in the Australian Open second spherical on Wednesday (January 21, 2026), with fellow high seed Aryna Sabalenka additionally enduring some shaky moments earlier than sealing progress.
Alexander Zverev’s advance was stalled by rain showers, an harm scare and feisty Frenchman Alexandre Muller within the night session, however the males’s third seed prevailed in 4 units to securely attain the third spherical.
His equal within the ladies’s draw, Coco Gauff, earlier made quick work of Olga Danilovic, whereas in-form seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and eighth seed Mirra Andreeva additionally romped by their contests.
After a cushty win within the opening spherical, high seed Alcaraz was given extra of a exercise by Germany’s world quantity 102 Hanfmann on a sunbathed Rod Laver Enviornment however rose to the problem and moved on 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2.
“I knew he was going to play nice,” Alcaraz, 22, stated.
“I knew his stage. We got here by the Challengers collectively. I’ve performed him. It was more durable than I assumed initially, and I didn’t really feel the ball that good.”
Alcaraz discovered himself trailing 3-1 within the first set and, after getting again on stage phrases, wasted a number of possibilities to interrupt Hanfmann’s big serve once more.
The six-time main winner pounced within the tiebreak to wrap up a bodily draining opening set in 78 minutes, nonetheless, and carried that momentum into the second set.
Hanfmann obtained medical therapy earlier than the beginning of the third, and Alcaraz confirmed no mercy, sealing a double break and shutting out the competition on serve.
“It was coming like a bomb,” the Spaniard stated of Hanfmann’s energy. “Forehand, backhand, serves. I needed to be prepared for these.
“I’m actually glad that I obtained by a troublesome first set … and I performed a very good stage on the finish of the match and obtained by,” he stated.
Sabalenka stumbles
Sabalenka’s points within the opener on the principle showcourt got here out of the blue, the Belarusian racing to a 5-0 lead towards China’s Bai Zhuoxuan earlier than shedding three video games in a row.
The world primary refocused and proceeded to mow down Bai the remainder of the best way, operating out a 6-3 6-1 winner to remain on monitor for her third title at Melbourne Park.
“She didn’t begin nicely, however then she had the energy to step in and to alter a few issues and to place me below stress. That was actually spectacular,” Sabalenka stated.
“It appeared like she didn’t actually care about the rating. She would simply attempt to discover one thing that’s going to assist her to win the match,” she stated.
American title contender Gauff was at her ruthlessly environment friendly finest as she crushed Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 in shiny sunshine, however the night rain meant Italian Paolini needed to swap courts to full her 6-2, 6-3 demolition of Magdalena Frech.
Emma Raducanu’s day resulted in disappointment because the 2021 U.S. Open champion was overwhelmed 7-6(3) 6-2 by Anastasia Potapova, whereas Russian teenager Andreeva thumped Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-4.
Zverev, runner-up final yr and nonetheless looking for his first main title, performed down fears of a tournament-ending harm after receiving therapy on his decrease left leg a number of instances in his 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Muller.
“I took a painkiller and it was fantastic after that,” stated the 28-year-old German.
De Minaur battles previous Medjedovic
That match apart, ticket holders for the night session had been handled to an Australian-heavy lineup, the spotlight for locals being sixth seed Alex de Minaur’s 6-7(5) 6-2 6-2 6-1 win over Hamad Medjedovic.
The Australian primary, who has by no means been previous the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam, struggled early on towards the difficult Serbian however turned the match with a break for 4-2 within the second set after 4 deuces.
Russian former finalist Daniil Medvedev additionally surrendered the opening set to Quentin Halys however dug deep to register a 6-7(9) 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory and be a part of his childhood buddy Andrey Rublev within the subsequent spherical.
Whereas Russian flags are banned at Melbourne Park as a part of measures imposed by Tennis Australia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, there have been loads of Turkish flags waving within the stands as Zeynep Sonmez continued her dream run Down Beneath.
The 23-year-old, who has turn into a crowd favorite after serving to a ball child who fainted on the opening day, beat Anna Bondar 6-2, 6-4 to achieve the third spherical for the primary time.
“I felt like I used to be at residence, mainly I used to be feeling the vitality. It was actually unreal,” Sonmez stated of the help she obtained.
“I actually, actually recognize it. I felt very good on the court docket. I felt like we had been all taking part in collectively,” he stated.
Revealed – January 21, 2026 12:35 pm IST
