Sinner And Keys Start Title Defense As Fritz Battles Injury

The 2026 Australian Open kicked off in Melbourne with a wave of anticipation and high drama, as defending champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys launched their title defenses in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena. The tournament’s opening rounds, spread across three days, set the stage for a compelling fortnight, featuring upsets, injury comebacks, and the relentless pursuit of tennis history.

Jannik Sinner, the world number two and back-to-back champion, entered the tournament with a unique blend of confidence and pressure. His quest for an extraordinary third consecutive Australian Open title—dubbed the "three-peat"—began against Frenchman Hugo Gaston. Sinner’s preparation for Melbourne had been anything but conventional; his last official match came over two months ago when he bested Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP Finals title decider. During the off-season, Sinner served a three-month suspension for doping, a setback that could have derailed a lesser athlete’s momentum. Still, the Italian insisted the extended break was intentional, telling reporters, "In the past couple of years, I haven’t played any official match before here because of the simple fact that I wanted to have a good off-season, a longer off-season to get ready for this season again."

Despite a tune-up exhibition loss to Alcaraz in South Korea, Sinner looked sharp in his opener. Gaston, ranked No. 94 and making his fifth main draw appearance at the Australian Open, had struggled in the lead-up, falling in Brisbane’s qualifiers and the first round in Auckland. On the night, Sinner’s heavy groundstrokes and aggressive baseline play proved too much for the Frenchman. Unfortunately, the match ended prematurely as Gaston retired injured with Sinner leading 6-2, 6-1. The Italian’s straightforward victory offered a comfortable start to his campaign and reinforced his status as a hard-court specialist. With the likes of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz lurking in the draw, Sinner’s form will be closely scrutinized as the tournament unfolds.

On the women’s side, Madison Keys began the defense of her maiden Grand Slam title against Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova, who was making her main draw debut in Melbourne. Keys’ path to last year’s championship was anything but easy; she survived four three-set matches, including a dramatic semi-final where she saved a match point against Iga Swiatek. Reflecting on her journey, Keys shared, "You look back and it’s kind of easy to be like, ‘Wow, everything was amazing, I can’t believe it’. But also you think about, like, ‘Wow, I almost lost. I was match point down’. So many three-set matches. There were some ugly matches."

After withdrawing from the WTA Finals due to a viral illness, Keys dedicated her off-season to recovery and fine-tuning her game. Her opening match in Melbourne was a testament to her resilience. Keys battled back from 4-0 down in the first set and saved two set points, eventually prevailing and advancing to the next round. The American’s powerful serve and renewed mental fortitude have transformed her into a consistent threat at the majors. As she looks to consolidate her place among the game’s elite, Keys faces the unique challenge of defending a Grand Slam title for the first time—a test of both nerves and skill.

While Sinner and Keys stole the headlines, American Taylor Fritz’s return was a story of perseverance and grit. Seeded ninth, Fritz faced French debutant Valentin Royer in the first round. The American had spent most of the off-season rehabbing a troublesome right knee, battling chronic tendonitis that had hampered his United Cup performance earlier in the month. Fritz, who lost three of his four United Cup matches and a practice set to Sinner in Melbourne, admitted, "The knee is definitely improving, but it’s the type of injury that takes two to four months of solid rehab to see improvements."

Fritz’s opening match was a stern test of his physical readiness. After dropping the second set, he rallied to win 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-1, 6-3, showcasing flashes of brilliance and determination. His mobility and explosive serve—hallmarks of his game—were closely watched, and his ability to endure the best-of-five set format will be crucial as the tournament progresses. Should his knee falter, Fritz may have to reconsider his schedule for the rest of the season, but for now, his campaign remains alive and kicking.

The first round also saw its share of upsets and dramatic moments. Italian 20th seed Flavio Cobolli, touted as a dark horse, was stunned in straight sets by British qualifier Arthur Fery, who capitalized on Cobolli’s struggles with a stomach ailment. This early exit adds pressure to fellow Italians Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti—both of whom carry the hopes of a nation with a burgeoning tennis pedigree. Musetti, seeded fifth, advanced past Belgian Raphael Collignon, another main draw debutant, as the Italian contingent looks to maintain its strong recent record in Melbourne.

Elsewhere, the men’s draw featured an intriguing clash between eighth seed Ben Shelton and France’s Ugo Humbert. Humbert, fresh off a final appearance at the ATP 250 Adelaide International, brought confidence and experience, while Shelton, who went 1-1 at the ASB Classic in Auckland, faced a stern test in his opener. The spread of top seeds across the three-day first round created a thrilling conclusion to the tournament’s opening act, with fans eagerly anticipating potential blockbuster matchups, including a projected semi-final between Sinner and Djokovic.

On the women’s side, notable performances included Belinda Bencic’s straight-sets victory over Katie Boulter and Sorana Cirstea’s comeback win against Eva Lys. Australian Maddison Inglis delighted the home crowd with a marathon win over Kimberly Birrell, prevailing 7-6(6), 6-7(9), 6-4 in an all-Australian showdown.

As the dust settles on the first round, the 2026 Australian Open has already delivered high drama, emotional farewells—such as Gael Monfils’ last match in Melbourne—and the promise of more unforgettable moments. For Sinner and Keys, the journey to defend their crowns has begun in earnest, while Fritz’s battle with injury adds an extra layer of intrigue to the American camp. With the specter of Djokovic and Alcaraz looming, and a field hungry for glory, the tournament’s early chapters have set the stage for a captivating Grand Slam saga.