Carlos Alcaraz scores career Grand Slam victory at Australian Open ATP Tour

ATP Tour

Alcaraz wins career Grand Slam at Australian Open

Seeded team Bublik, Cerundolo, Norrie and Tiafoe won, Zheng defeated Korda

January 18, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start to his bid for a career Grand Slam at this year’s Australian Open, overcoming a tenacious performance from Australia’s Adam Walton in Melbourne to reach the second round.

Playing for the first time in the post-Juan Carlos Ferrero era, the world number one defeated Walton 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-2 in a night match at Rod Laver Arena.

Alcaraz, who ended a seven-year relationship with former coach Ferrero in December, is aiming to become the sixth man and youngest person in the Open era to win all four majors at least once. The Spaniard wasn’t at his best against Walton but found enough consistency when needed to shake off the world No. 79 in the pair’s second Lexus ATP head-to-head meeting (2-0 Alcaraz).

“I’m really excited to step on the court again for the first time this season. There’s nothing better than playing on Rod Laver Arena,” Alcaraz said. “It was a great game. I felt great and Adam hit some great shots and played at a high level, so I have to keep that level up.”

Alcaraz hit 38 winning shots in the second set and showed his fighting ability, going back from 1-3 to further establish his authority in the game. Walton was trying to advance to the second round of his hometown major for the first time and put on a strong display in the two-hour, 13-minute match, at times troubling Alcaraz with his deep groundstrokes. However, he was unable to compete with the Spaniard at critical moments.

“It’s really hard to find good locations,” Alcaraz added. “It felt like he was always in a good position. Long rallies. He was very consistent from the baseline and his flat shots were really difficult for me at times. Getting used to the conditions and the course, but it was a very consistent game.”

Alcaraz is chasing his seventh major in two weeks under coach Samuel Lopez. The Spaniard is a two-time champion of the French Open (2024, ’25), Wimbledon (2023, ’24) and the U.S. Open (2022, ’25). The 22-year-old’s next match will be against German Yannick Hanfmann, who beat American qualifier Zachary Svajda 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(3).

Elsewhere, PIF ATP Ranking 10 Alexander Bublik earned his first win at the Australian Open since 2022. The 28-year-old, competing in the top ten for the first time, defeated Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and will face Marton Fucsovics in the second round.

American qualifier Michael Cheng notched a dream victory in his tour-level debut, defeating Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 6-3. Zheng, 21, will now play Corentin Moutet, who is currently studying at Columbia University in New York and is a senior at the school. Learn more about the reigning NCAA men’s singles champions here.

Seeded players Cameron Norrie, Francisco Cerundolo and Frances Tiafoe also recorded wins on the first day. According to Infosys ATP statistics, British southpaw Norrie defeated Benjamin Bonzi 6-0, 6-7(2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and has now won his past three matches to reach five sets. No. 18 seed Serendolo defeated Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 7-6(0), 6-3, while Tiafoe defeated Australian Jason Kubler 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2.