In Australia, the second round of the Australian Open commenced on January 20, 2026, featuring top seeds like Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz. Sabalenka, currently ranked number one in the world, faced Bai Zhuoxuan, a Chinese qualifier who entered the tournament with a hard-fought win against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. After a challenging opening match, Sabalenka emphasized her desire to mix up her gameplay as part of her strategy to secure a third title at the event. Meanwhile, Alcaraz looked to advance past the quarter-finals after his previous struggles in Melbourne, facing Yannick Hanfmann in the second round, confident after his first-round victory over Adam Walton. He expressed an eagerness to perform better than in the past, where talented opponents thwarted his progress. Australia also saw rising star Alex de Minaur pitted against Serbian talent Hamad Medjedovic, who has made a name for himself by defeating high-ranked players in previous matches. The stakes were high for all players involved as the competition intensified on this critical day of the tournament, featuring notable first-round matches showcasing the rising stars in the sport.