Australian Open 2026 LIVE updates: Sinner chases three-peat; Joint, Kasatkina lead Aussie charge; Keys, Shelton, Rybakina, Osaka in action

There’s plenty of tennis to watch here at Melbourne Park, of course. But also of note? The celeb spotting.

Here’s who you might see today at the tennis ...

At the Emirates event late this afternoon will be former Blues skipper Marc Murphy and his wife Jessie, media personality and former Miss World Australia Erin Holland, Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne and her brother Stevie Payne, actors David Berry and Brett Tucker, and comedian Joel Creasey.

Also in attendance will be Tania Buckley and Brooke and Jackson Warne.

The headline guest? Collingwood’s Darcy Moore.

Over at Ralph Lauren, you’ll find Olympic runner Peter Bol, Collingwood’s Isaac Quaynor, Olympic skateboarder Keegan Palmer, former Cat Tom Hawkins and his wife Emma Hawkins, and Richmond’s Tim Taranto.

Plus, Chantelle Otten, Isabella Skocic and Madison Sullivan-Thorpe.

Let us know who else you see out and about!

Read all about the famous faces and behind-the-scenes Open action in our Open Season column here.

If you’re at Melbourne Park early to try to beat the queues, why not head out to a practice court and watch how some of the best in the word train?

I’ve just had a quick stroll around the grounds, and already I’ve passed women’s seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who is having a hit with doubles partner Sara Errani on court 7 ahead of their round one doubles match this morning.

Jakub Mensik, Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard and Sloane Stephens are among the others out having an early morning hit.

As for me, I’ve just parked myself at court 10, where American Frances Tiafoe is working through the motions in preparation for his second-round match against Francisco Comesana tomorrow.

We all know by now the Open is an excellent place to do some people-watching, as well as catching premium tennis action.

Among famous faces spotted at Melbourne Park yesterday were former AFL star and media personality Billy Brownless, bar tsar Nick Russian and Juan Mata, the Spanish import for Melbourne Victory, who watched Novak Djokovic smash through to the second round on Rod Laver Arena.

Former Aussie cricket star David Warner also watched the Djokovic match with wife Candice and two daughters in the general public seats. The family left at the start of the third set. Good plan to beat the crowds.

Read all about the famous faces and what goes on behind the scenes in our Open Season column here.

Lengthy queues and long waiting times have been among the main talking points at the start of the Australian Open this year.

However, it’s day three and things seem to have calmed down ever so slightly, although it’s only 9.30am, so we don’t want to jinx anything.

There’s a fairly short line outside the Garden Square entry of Melbourne Park.

The sunscreen-covered tennis fan here seemed to have heeded Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley’s advice to have express passes pre-downloaded for a seamless entry.

The No.70 trams stopping outside Rod Laver Arena aren’t too crowded, but will probably fill up quickly as the morning progresses.

Another day of action here at Melbourne Park, and there are a whole stack of Aussies taking to the court.

First up is wildcard Taylah Preston at 11am on Kia Arena against China’s Shuai Zhang, along with 32nd seed Maya Joint against Czech Tereza Valentova on John Cain Arena, also at 11am.

Wildcard Christopher O’Connell plays American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy second on ANZ Arena, so that should be roughly a 1pm start.

Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny is also in action against Frenchman Gael Monfils later today on Kia Arena, along with wildcard James Duckworth, who plays lucky loser Dino Prizmic third on Court 6.

Later in the day, Daria Kasatkina takes on Nikola Bartunkova on ANZ Arena.

We also have an all-Aussies clash of Madison Inglis and Kimberly Birrell on John Cain Arena.

In doubles action, Rinky Hijikata and Tristan Schoolkate are last on Court 6.

And in case you missed it, here is a look at the Aussies who are already through to the second round.

Alex de Minaur insists the world’s top tennis players’ push for a bigger slice of the Australian Open revenue pie is about growing the sport, as well as greater compensation.

Tennis Australia raised prize money to $111.5 million for the current tournament, larger than last year’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon purses, but less than the US Open.

The monster pot includes a record $4.2 million payday for the men’s and women’s singles champions.

But it hasn’t satisfied the world’s top players and their agents, who reportedly met in Melbourne in recent days, agreeing to ramp up industrial action in pursuit of a bigger share of grand slam revenue.

Women’s world No.3 Coco Gauff also publicly warned players would raise pressure if their demands were not met.

De Minaur, the men’s world No.6, was quizzed on the situation after his comfortable first-round win over America’s Mackenzie McDonald at Melbourne Park yesterday.

“What we’re fighting for is to better our sport and ultimately for the players to be better compensated,” de Minaur said.

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“Saying this, we are incredibly well-compensated as of right now. But when you look at the percentages and the differences between other sports, then of course there is room to grow.

“I think that’s what we’re trying to get to ultimately, to a point where we’re all helping each other grow this beautiful sport.

“We have seen it grow over the years immensely. Ultimately, I think it’s going to be for the best for both the players and the tours and everyone in this sport if we all sit down in a room and we kind of find ways to keep on improving, and we keep the communication going.”

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A shattered Alexei Popyrin has been left lamenting what could have been after crashing out of the first round of the Open last night.

Popyrin failed to take several opportunities in a 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (10-4) loss to Frenchman Alexandre Muller in a rollercoaster match that went for just shy of four hours on John Cain Arena.

Popyrin led 4-2 in the fourth set, and then 5-2 in the tiebreak, and 5-3 in the fifth, but was unable to finish off Muller in a result that left the 26-year-old Australian lost for answers after the gruelling clash.

It’s a disappointing result for the Australian, who said he thought he should have won that match.

“Yeah, disappointment. Obviously, not happy. Felt like I was in control nearly all the match,” he said in his post-match press conference.

“Couldn’t close it out. That’s about it. I felt when the balls were new and the court was playing a little bit faster, I was totally in control.

“Once the balls started to get a little bit older, you know, he moves well, and he grinds really well, so it’s in his favour.”

Popyrin said he served well, but he was unable to capitalise on the key moments.

“I just couldn’t come up with the finishing touch nearly three times today, I think, and that’s really disappointing,” he said.

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