ATP
Alcaraz opens career Grand Slam bid with straight sets win
Carlos Alcaraz. the reigning French and US Open champion, opened his 2026 account with a first round win over home qualifier Adam Walton in straight sets.
The Spaniard won 6-3, 7-6 (7), 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena,
The current world No. 1 is bidding for a career Grand Slam and said he was satisfied to get a solid match under his belt, but conceded 36 unforced errors, more than his 81st-ranked opponent.
The Spaniard has not made it past the quarterfinals in four visits to Australia, losing last year to Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev in 2024.
Should he break his Australian Open drought, Alcaraz would become the youngest man to earn a career Grand Slam, overtaking recently retired Rafael Nadal, who won all four majors by the age of 24.
He would also be the youngest man in the Open era to win seven Grand Slams since Bjorn Borg,won his 7th Title in June 1980 at the French Open aged 23, beating Vitas Gerulaitis in straight sets.
After the match Alacaraz told the on court spectators in an interview with Jim Courier “First of all, I’m just really, really happy to step on the court once again for the first time this season,” having only played an exhibition match against his nearest rival Jannik Sinner in the lead-up.
“It couldn’t be better to be on Rod Laver Arena”
“It was a good match,” he added. “I think Adam pulled out some great shots, great level in the match, so I had to stay there too.
“Overall I’m just happy that I played as well as I played today. It felt like he was one step forward of me, he was always in a good position.
“He was solid from the baseline, his flat ball was really difficult for me. It was a really solid match.”
His second-round match will be against Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann, currently ranked 103rd
Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz on Rod Laver Arena – by ISFLtd