Australian Open 2026 Men’s Day 1

Last year’s finalist Alexander Zverev survived an opening-set surprise from upstart Canadian Gabriel Diallo, but regained his poise in a 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 comeback effort to make it into the second round on opening day Sunday at the Australian Open.

The 41st-ranked Diallo dominated the first-set tiebreaker but was unable to keep the 2025 losing finalist to Jannik Sinner on the back foot for any longer.

German  Zverev mounted a comeback to prevail in four sets after two and three-quarter hours.

“In the beginning, I was not playing good,” Zverev said. “I was giving him too

many chances, I was too defensive.. the normal stuff that I do in the first round of a Grand Slam sometimes.

“I’m happy with the way I played the second, third, and fourth sets; I thought that was quite high level for me.”

The three-time runner-up at the majors, said he was relieved to reach the second round.

“After you’ve won and through that match, it’s a positive for sure, because you have been tested and you know where you are and you know where your level is at, especially in difficult moments.

“But when the draw comes out and you haven’t played, and I’m not sitting here as the winner, it’s  not something is nice or you look forward
to. 

“At the end, of course, I was happy with how I took on the challenge and especially how I played the last three sets.”

Things fell apart for Diallo after taking the first set, with the Canadian’s shoelaces a constant problem as they kept snapping at inopportune match moments.

Another Canadian went down as Liam Draxl was beaten 7-5, 6-0, 6-4 by Damir Dzumhur.

French-to-British outsider Arthur Fery stunned Flavio Cobolli 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-1, with the No. 185 qualifier ousting the Italian 20th seed, first of the top 32 elite to lose at this edition.

Fery, who beat Bernard Tomic in qualifying this week,  will play the second round of a Grand Slam for the second time after 2025 Wimbledon.

Reports indicated that Cobolli had problems with his stomach during the first-round upset.

The match had moments of strife, with Cobolli’s underarm serve being replayed due to the fact it was struck before the balls from the previous point had not all been gathered when he played it.

Frances Tiafoe accounted for an Aussie with his 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Jason Kubler.

Corentin Moutet sent another local packing as he defeated Tristan Schoolkate 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-3.