Carlos Alcaraz makes successful start to Career Grand Slam bid at Australian Open | ATP Tour

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Alcaraz made a successful start to her bid for the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open

Seeds Bublik, Cerundolo, Norrie & Tiafoe win, Zheng upsets Korda

January 18, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz made a successful start to his quest to complete the Career Grand Slam at this year’s Australian Open, where he overcame a strong performance from Australia’s Adam Walton to reach the second round in Melbourne.

Competing for the first time after Juan Carlos Ferrero, World No. 1 past Walton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the night session at Rod Laver Arena.

Alcaraz, who ended his seven-year relationship with former coach Ferrero in December, is aiming to become the sixth man – and the youngest – 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 make a move on the World No. 79 in the second meeting of both Lexus ATP Head2Head (2-0 Alcaraz).

“I’m very happy to be back on the field for the first time this season. It couldn’t be better, playing here at Rod Laver Arena,” said Alcaraz. “It was a good game. I felt good and Adam made good shots, good quality in the game, so I had to stay there at this level.”

Alcaraz hit 38 winners and showed his fighting qualities in the second set, rallying from 1-3 to step on another authority in the tournament. Walton was trying to advance to the second round of his first home Slam and gave a good account of himself over the course of two hours, 13 minutes, troubling Alcaraz at times with his deep groundstrokes. However, he was unable to match the Spanish at key moments.

“It was really hard to find good places,” Alcaraz said. “It felt like he was always in good shape. Long rallies. He was strong from the start and his flat ball was sometimes very difficult for me. Getting used to the conditions and the pitch, but it was a really strong game.”

Alcaraz, led by coach Samuel Lopez, is chasing his seventh point in these two days. The Spaniard is a two-time champion at Roland Garros (2024, ’25), Wimbledon (2023, ’24) and the US Open (2022, ’25). The 22-year-old will meet Yannick Hanfmann again after the German defeated American Zachary Svajda 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(3).

In other action, PIF ATP Rankings No. 10 Alexander Bublik earned his first win at the Australian Open since 2022. Competing as a Top 10 player for the first time, the 28-year-old defeated Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to set up a second round meeting with Fucsovic and Marton.

American qualifier Michael Zheng earned his dream debut at the tour level, upsetting Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 6-3. Zheng, 21, who will next play Corentin Moutet, is currently attending Columbia University in New York, where he is a senior. Learn more about the reigning NCAA singles champion here.

There were also wins for seeds Cameron Norrie, Francisco Cerundolo and Frances Tiafoe on Day 1. Lefty British Norrie defeated Benjamin Bonzi 6-0, 6-7(2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and has now won his last three matches in five sets, according to Infosys ATP Stats. 18th-ranked Cerundolo defeated Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 7-6(0), 6-3, while Tiafoe defeated Australia’s Jason Kubler 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2.