The mid-tournament surge intensifies the battle! The 2026 Australian Open ignites Melbourne with thrilling action

Under Melbourne’s blazing summer sun, the 2026 Australian Open has sparked widespread excitement since the qualifying rounds. The “One Point Decides” Grand Slam, featuring entertainment stars like Jay Chou alongside amateur and professional players, has ignited massive online discussions. On January 17, the tournament’s opening ceremony debuted with a surprise appearance by Rolex ambassador Federer, who joined legends such as Agassi, Rafter, and Hewitt for an exhibition match, evoking fond memories of tennis’s golden era. On January 18, the main draw officially began, locking the attention of global tennis fans for a thrilling 15-day schedule. As a long-time partner since 2008, the renowned Swiss watch brand Rolex has accompanied the Australian Open for eighteen years, witnessing every highlight and glorious moment on the court.

Rolex ambassador Federer Photo: ©Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

Women’s singles: Top seeds show steady form, with Chinese players breaking through prominently

Rolex ambassador Swiatek Photo: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

Rolex ambassador Swiatek, competing as the tournament’s No. 2 seed, aims to achieve a “Career Grand Slam” at this Australian Open. In the first week, Swiatek played with ease, consecutively defeating Chinese players Yuan Yue, Buzkova, 31st seed Kalinskaya, and local qualifier Inglis to advance smoothly. After warming up through the first four rounds, Swiatek faces the challenge of former finalist and 5th seed Rybakina in the quarterfinals; if successful, she will meet the winner between 4th seed Anisimova and 6th seed Pegula in the semifinals.

Rolex ambassador Gauff Photo: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

Rolex ambassador Andreescu Photo: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

Rolex ambassador Gauff has defeated Rashimova, Danilovic, Baptiste, and Muchova, marking her third consecutive year reaching the Australian Open women’s singles quarterfinals. Although her last two matches went to three sets, her consistency as the tournament’s 3rd seed has been confirmed. In the quarterfinals, Gauff will face 12th seed Svitolina, who eliminated Rolex ambassador Andreescu in the fourth round. Her potential semifinal opponent could be world No. 1 Sabalenka or the 18-year-old American rising star Jovic.

Facing increasingly tough opponents, Gauff’s mindset has grown more relaxed. When asked if she believes she can win the Australian Open this year, she said, “I think the most important thing is believing in myself — knowing the hard work I put in during training and trusting that it will show on the court.” Although Andreescu has yet to reach the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, her three appearances in the main draw’s fourth round are impressive.

Rolex ambassador Mboko Photo: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

Rolex ambassador and Canadian rising star Mboko has shone brightly at Melbourne Park, consecutively defeating Jones, McNally, and Townsend to reach her first Grand Slam round of 16. In a fierce fourth-round battle against world No. 1 Sabalenka, Mboko pushed the match to a tiebreak in the second set, putting the two-time champion under serious pressure. Crowned WTA Rookie of the Year for 2025, Mboko’s 2026 performance is highly anticipated as she has already proven her worth early in the season.

Rolex ambassador Zheng Qinwen Photo: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

Although Rolex ambassador Zheng Qinwen is sidelined due to injury, the four Chinese women competing in the main draw have shown strong performances. Bai Zhuoxuan and Yuan Yue successfully advanced from qualifying; Bai won her first-round match, earning a valuable second-round clash against world No. 1 Sabalenka, while Yuan staged an exciting match against Swiatek in the first round. Wang Xinyu broke through to reach the Australian Open women’s singles round of 16 for the first time, and Zhang Shuai continues to progress in doubles with multiple events underway.

Men’s singles: The Grand Slam race heats up — who will break through?

Rolex ambassador Alcaraz Photo: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

Rolex ambassador Alcaraz, appearing as the top seed in Melbourne, is also aiming to complete the “Career Grand Slam” this year. Alcaraz has performed steadily in the early rounds, winning all four matches in straight sets against Walton, Hanfmann, Moutet, and Paul. Having reached the quarterfinals for three consecutive years, he will face local favorite and 6th seed De Minaur across the net. In his previous two Australian Open quarterfinals (losing to Zverev in 2024 and Djokovic in 2025), Alcaraz was unable to advance further; this year, he is determined to fight for the title and move closer to a “Career Grand Slam.”

Rolex ambassador Sinner Photo: ©Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

Rolex ambassador Shelton Photo: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

Rolex ambassador and two-time defending champion Sinner has extended his winning streak at the Australian Open singles to 18 matches, marching confidently toward a third consecutive title. However, on the day of his third-round match, Melbourne experienced extreme heat, and during a tough battle with American Spizzirri, Sinner suffered cramps, presenting one of the challenges he must overcome.

In the quarterfinals, Sinner will face Shelton in a “Rolex Derby.” Rolex ambassador and 8th seed Shelton has continued his strong Australian Open form this year, winning his first three rounds in straight sets against Ambel, Sweeny, and Vachero, then defeating 12th seed Ruud in four sets in the fourth round. He will be ready to face Sinner at his best.

Rolex ambassador Fritz Photo: ©Rolex/Jon Buckle

Rolex ambassador and 9th seed Fritz returns to the Australian Open round of 16 after two years. His path has been challenging: after defeating French player Royer and Czech player Kopriva in the first two rounds, Fritz engaged in a highlight match against 2014 champion Wawrinka, who is soon retiring. Fritz delivered an impressive performance as a tribute to the three-time Grand Slam winner. Although he lost in the fourth round to 5th seed Musetti and missed the quarterfinals, this Australian Open journey has laid a solid foundation for Fritz’s new season.

Regarding Chinese players, Shang Juncheng, Zhang Zhizhen, wildcard entrant Bu Yunchaokete, and qualifier Wu Yibing form the largest Chinese men’s singles Grand Slam main draw contingent in the Open Era. Wu Yibing not only advanced through qualifying but also won his first-round match, securing his first career Australian Open main draw victory; Shang Juncheng continues his hot form this season by returning to the Australian Open round of 64.

The Rolex clock at Melbourne Park Photo: ©Rolex/Antoine Couvercelle

After fierce battles through the first four rounds, the men’s and women’s singles quarterfinal lineups are finalized. In the tournament’s latter stages, multiple high-profile clashes between seeded players will take center stage at Rod Laver Arena, pushing the excitement of this year’s first Grand Slam to its peak. Rolex will continue to capture every moment at the Australian Open, sharing legendary highlights and witnessing champions reach their pinnacle alongside fans worldwide!