AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2026, Melbourne, WTA GRAND SLAM

[britbox]

Gauff levels things up with a second set bagel. Baptiste looking a little sloppy with tiredness creeping in. Still, the second set scoreline was slightly flattering. Nevertheless, I think Coco will take the third and see this out.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I really am impressed with the young American Jovic, love watching her play
Jovic won the 1st set 62 over Paolini the 7th seed
Jaz has beren broken 5 times so far today, Jovic can re direct the ball with ease, and can return well.
Jovic leads 4-2 in the 2nd set, havent seen the best of Jaz today.
What I love about Jovic she has just great margin and her ball rarely goes near the lines
Jovic is just one game away now for the biggest win of her career
Jovic leads 5-3 2nd set
Jovic will now serve for the match 5-4
Great recovery from Jaz, Jovic nervous, good fighting from Jaz and back on serve in the 2nd set 5 all
6th break of serve from Jovic will she be able to serve out the set for the 2nd time at 6-5 ?
Jovic 1st serve percentage has gone down in the last couple of game, broken again and 6 games all
TB for the 2nd set.
Jovic with a great fhand and she has 3 MPs
18 yo Jovic gets the biggest win of her career 62 76(3) well done young lady, you showed nerves when you serve for the match twice, but you played a great TB!
BTW, Jaz did have the medical team out in the 1set with stomach problems, that is not taking away from Jovic's win

 

[kskate2]

I am going to defend Osaka, the umpire already stated that Osaka didnt break any rules of conduct or sportsmanship, stating she said 'come on' when the ball wasnt in play. Having listened to the audio at the end of the match, when Osaka asked what was the cold handshake for, Sorana sarcastically answered 'its about fair play and you have been playing for soo long and you dont know what fair play is"?., still Osaka isnt a player on the tour to bend the rules, she is an introvert, and she said she was sorry in her presser. Sorana has been a continual whinger on the tour, I have never been a fan.

You can defend her all you want. It doesn't take away from what she did. And I'm getting a little tired of folks apologizing after the fact. Like that somehow erases past behavior. Folks need to do better and be better. For someone who' claims to be an introvert and doesn't want media attention, she sure is soaking up all this flair from the press. Seems like she's only interested in the media when it's on her terms. Anyway, enough about that.

 

[kskate2]

Jovic is the real deal. Been watching her for the last 18 months. She could've won that final in Auckland, but she was on fumes after so many tough matches. Besides, coming up short there taught her a lesson and it's helped her already here.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

You can defend her all you want. It doesn't take away from what she did. And I'm getting a little tired of folks apologizing after the fact. Like that somehow erases past behavior. Folks need to do better and be better. For someone who' claims to be an introvert and doesn't want media attention, she sure is soaking up all this flair from the press. Seems like she's only interested in the media when it's on her terms. Anyway, enough about that.

Well we will have to agree to disagree

 

[Fiero425]

You can defend her all you want. It doesn't take away from what she did. And I'm getting a little tired of folks apologizing after the fact. Like that somehow erases past behavior. Folks need to do better and be better. For someone who' claims to be an introvert and doesn't want media attention, she sure is soaking up all this flair from the press. Seems like she's only interested in the media when it's on her terms. Anyway, enough about that.

IDK anyone defending this! Even Martina thought it out of line, but it's hard to penalize Osaka for it after the fact besides trying to undermine her reputation & career! I'm sure we're not going to go that far! Only a few could possibly accept or pass over this incident!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

IDK anyone defending this! Even Martina thought it out of line, but it's hard to penalize Osaka for it after the fact besides trying to undermine her reputation & career! I'm sure we're not going to go that far! Only a few could possibly accept or pass over this incident!

Go Away you don't follow the Wta and if you knew the rule Osaka didnt break the rule as the umpire explained to Sorana in the match, Osaka said Come On when the ball wasnt in play!
Martina needs to read up on the rule!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Matches on Arena courts including RLA, MC, John Cain Arena will commence at 10.30am Play on all other courts will commence at 10am as scheduled with gates to open at 9am
Extreme Heat warning for Melbourne Saturday 24th January
Over 35 degrees expected from 1pm to 8pm, peaking at 39c during the day
The Heat Stress Schedule will be used to determine if play will be halted at any point

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW,
Mirra Andreeva becomes the first woman to reach the Round of 16 or better in her first 3 AO appearances since Venus Williams
Venus Williams 1998,1999,2001
Mirra Andreeva 2024, 2025, 2026

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sabalenka's Tie Break Dominance
The world No 1 survived her toughest test yet, saving 4 set points in the 2nd set tie break against Potapova
She's now won 19 consecutive Grand Slam tie breaks, tying Novak Djokovics 2005-2007 streak.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Womens Singles R16 Top Half
Sabalenka (1) vs Mboko (17)
Jovic (29) vs Putintseva
Gauff (3) vs Muchova (19)
Andreeva (8) vs Svitolina (12)

 

[britbox]

Order of play: 24 Jan 2026

 

[britbox]

Highlight Reels - Day 6 (23 Jan)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Both Keys (9) and Pegula (6) won in straight sets, well done in the heat to get off the court quickly
Keys d Pliskova 63 63 Pliskova at times could not find her serve
Pegula (6) d Selekhmeteva 63 62
Anisimova d Stearns 61 64
Mertens (21) d Q Bartunkova 60 64
Rybakina d Valentova 62 63
Swaitek d Kalinskaya 16 61 61

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Due to the heat no matches will be called on outside courts before 5.30pm

AO Referee

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The players that were on outside courts when the extreme heat rule came into play, with a stress heat level of 5, which was over 4 hours ago now being called to their courts
Temp is still 38 c still very hot and the roofs remain closed on RLA, MCA and John Cain Arena

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Osaka withdrew from her match against Inglis due to an injury ( left abdominal injury) she picked up in her previous match, Inglis gets a walkover to the next round
BTW the same injury Osaka had last year with her abs?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Womens Singles R 16,
Sabalenka (1) vs Mboko (17)
Jovic (29) vs Putintseva
Gauff (3) vs Muchova (19)
Andreeva (8) vs Svitolina (12)
Pegula (6) vs Keys (9)
Rybakina (5) vs Mertens
Swaitek (2) vs Inglis Q

 

[britbox]

Order of Play: 26 Jan 2026

 

[Moxie]

Watching Sabalenka v Mboko. @kskate2 : is this Nike kit with block colors the one you don't like? I like it. Anyway, hoping Mboko makes a good match of it.