Alcaraz Medvedev Sabalenka And Gauff Advance In Dramatic Australian Open Day

The stars were out in full force at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2026, as the Australian Open’s second round brought drama, resilience, and a showcase of tennis excellence. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev, reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka, and rising American Coco Gauff all punched their tickets to the third round, but their journeys couldn’t have been more different.

Let’s start with the headline act: Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-year-old Spanish sensation is chasing history in Melbourne, hoping to become the youngest man in the Open Era to achieve a career Grand Slam in singles and to claim his seventh major title. But if he’s going to get there, he’ll need to survive more battles like the one he endured against Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann on Rod Laver Arena.

Alcaraz’s 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 victory was anything but routine. The opening set, a marathon 78-minute tug-of-war, saw Hanfmann—ranked No. 102 and recently engaged in Melbourne—grab an early 3-1 lead and save two break points at 5-5. Alcaraz, however, roared back, snatching four straight points in the tiebreak to take the set. "I knew he was going to play great, I know his level… to be honest, it was tougher than I thought," Alcaraz admitted in his on-court interview. "I’m really happy that I got through a really difficult first set, then I started to feel a little bit better, tactically I feel I played much better."

Hanfmann, undeterred by the setback and even an apparent oblique injury that required treatment between sets, continued to press. But Alcaraz found his rhythm, blasting 11 aces—including four in a row to open the final set—and refusing to face another break point until the very last game. The Spaniard’s relentless pace and precision eventually wore down his opponent, setting up a third-round showdown with 32nd seed Corentin Moutet. Alcaraz, who has never advanced past the quarterfinals in Melbourne, is now two wins away from matching his best result here. The career Grand Slam dream is very much alive.

Meanwhile, on John Cain Arena, Daniil Medvedev was fighting his own battle of nerves and endurance against Quentin Halys. The Russian, seeded 11th and a runner-up in Melbourne three times, dropped the first set in a nail-biting 11-9 tiebreak. But Medvedev’s trademark grit took over, and he powered through the next three sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. "It was a very tough match, happy I managed to fight," Medvedev said after the win. The victory extended his unbeaten streak in 2026 to seven matches and marked his first trip to the round of 32 at a Grand Slam since the 2024 US Open. Next up? Hungary’s Fábián Marozsán, who will be looking to spring an upset.

Medvedev, ever the perfectionist, was candid about his performance. "I feel I was playing much better in Brisbane," he told reporters, referencing his tune-up title. "I still can’t get exactly used to the court here. I feel I am missing a bit of power in my shots. But while you continue winning in a tournament, you find it step-by-step. It’s for the first time in a couple of years I am in a third round of a Grand Slam, so feeling good."

On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka showed why she’s a two-time champion and the top seed. Facing Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan, ranked a distant 702, Sabalenka stormed out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back, closing out the match 6-3, 6-1. The Belarusian has now reached the third round in Melbourne for the sixth consecutive year and is eyeing a third title in four seasons. "Super happy to close the (first) set, it gives me confidence that my game is there, my focus is there," Sabalenka said. "Step by step. Super happy with my win. There is always a little gap to improve." Next, she’ll face Anastasia Potapova, who ousted 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

Coco Gauff, the 2024 Australian Open semifinalist and third seed, was every bit as clinical in her 6-2, 6-2 dismantling of Serbia’s Olga Danilovic. The match, lasting just 78 minutes, was a testament to Gauff’s growing maturity and confidence on the big stage. "Near perfect," was how Gauff described her performance, and the stats back her up. Gauff now sets up a tantalizing all-American clash with Hailey Baptiste, who advanced by defeating home favorite Storm Hunter.

Elsewhere, Elina Svitolina continued her impressive start to the year, dispatching Linda Klimovicova in straight sets. Her next challenge? A third-round duel with Diana Shnaider. Andrey Rublev, the ever-consistent Russian, made it through to the round of 32 for the seventh consecutive year by overcoming Jaime Faria in four sets. American Tommy Paul, Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Tomas Etcheverry also booked their spots in the next round, ensuring a global flavor as the tournament heats up.

British hopes remain alive as Cameron Norrie powered past Emilio Nava in four sets, with Norrie crediting the crowd for their support: "The crowd helped me so much," he told TNT Sports. Norrie’s reward is a potential clash with third-seed Alexander Zverev, last year’s beaten finalist.

As the third round approaches, the plotlines are as thick as the Melbourne heat. Can Alcaraz keep his Grand Slam dream on track and etch his name alongside the legends? Will Medvedev finally conquer his Melbourne demons? Could Sabalenka and Gauff be on a collision course for a blockbuster semifinal? And which dark horses will emerge from the shadows to shake up the draw?

One thing’s for sure: the 2026 Australian Open is serving up all the drama, talent, and unpredictability fans crave. The action is only just getting started, and with every match, the stakes get higher and the stories richer. Stay tuned—this tournament is far from over, and the stars are just beginning to shine their brightest.