2026 Australian Open: Raducanu Exits Early, Sabalenka Advances

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the 2026 Australian Open third round, but there was an early exit for Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu. Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka breezed through in 72 minutes against qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan, winning 6-3, 6-1 in round two of the season-opening tennis Grand Slam. Sabalenka was then lined up for a potential matchup against 2021 US Open champion Raducanu, but Anastasia Potapova swept in to spoil the script and reach the third round for the second time at Melbourne Park. The Austrian player, who switched nationality from Russia in time for the new season, came through to knock out the Briton 7-6(3), 6-2 on Wednesday (21 January). This is the first time since the 2024 US Open that Potapova, 24, is in round three of a major. “I don’t think I’m going to get straight back on the practice court,” Raducanu said in her post-match press conference. “I think I’m going to take a few days, get back, get back home, and try and just re-evaluate my game a bit.” Elsewhere in the women’s singles draw, Mirra Andreeva showed she means business by trouncing world No. 53 Maria Sakkari 6-0, 6-4. The eighth seed will now aim to make the fourth round for a third year running in Melbourne. There is also history being written for Türkiye, thanks to qualifier Zeynep Sönmez’s trailblazing run. At Wimbledon last year, the 23-year-old became the first Turkish player to reach a Grand Slam singles third round in the Open Era – now she has done it twice. Over in the men’s singles competition, Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur recovered from a set down to beat Hamad Medjedovic 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. He did so with a special guest in attendance: Sydney 2000 Olympic women’s 400m champion Cathy Freeman.