Canada’s male players are facing challenges at the start of the 2026 Australian Open. Following losses by Gabriel Diallo and Liam Draxl, Felix Auger-Aliassime, the seventh seed, had a tough match against Nuno Borges of Portugal. Auger-Aliassime initially won the opener but later lost and retired due to leg cramps, tied 15-15 in the fourth set. Borges showed empathy towards Auger-Aliassime’s physical struggle and advanced to face Jordan Thompson in the next round.
Denis Shapovalov, the 21st seed, secured a spot in the second round by defeating Bu Yunchaokete of China in straight sets. Shapovalov’s strong performance included 19 aces and a high conversion rate on break points. He is set to play against Marin Cilic in the upcoming round.
In the women’s singles, Victoria Mboko demonstrated a dominant performance, winning her first-round match against Emerson Jones. Mboko’s efficient play earned her a quick victory, setting up a second-round clash with Caty McNally. However, Marina Stakusic faced challenges, retiring due to cramps during her match against Priscilla Hon.
Jasmine Paolini, the seventh seed, had an impressive start at the Rod Laver Arena, winning decisively against Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Other notable matches saw Elina Svitolina and Maria Sakkari securing wins, while Flavio Cobolli became the first seeded player to exit the tournament.
Canada’s women’s team is set to compete against Kazakhstan in the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers. The winning team will advance to the finals in Shenzhen, China. Notably, Canada previously defeated Kazakhstan in the 2017 World Group II playoffs.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic marked his 100th win at the Australian Open, continuing his impressive track record at the tournament. Djokovic expressed his satisfaction with reaching this milestone and aims to secure his 25th major title. Venus Williams, despite a loss, set a record as the oldest woman to compete in the Australian Open singles main draw. Williams, a seven-time major winner, highlighted her progress and determination to continue improving in the tournament.