Australian Open 2026: Osaka's Heartbreak and Top Seeds' Progress
The Australian Open has been rocked by a major withdrawal as Naomi Osaka, the 16th seed, was forced to pull out of the tournament due to an abdominal injury. This occurred just hours before her scheduled third-round match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis in Saturday's night session, marking a devastating end to her campaign in Melbourne.
Women's Draw Upsets and Highlights
Osaka's exit stands as the most significant result in the women's draw so far, surpassing the earlier shock defeat of 10th seed Belinda Bencic. Bencic, who had been in formidable form with a 6-0 start to the season including a victory over Iga Swiatek, was stunned in the second round by 19-year-old Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova in a thrilling three-set match.
At the top of the women's seedings, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek hold the first and second positions respectively. Sabalenka, the reigning US Open champion, is aiming to reclaim her Australian Open title after a surprising loss to Madison Keys in last year's final. Swiatek, the Wimbledon champion, is also pursuing her first Australian Open crown to complete a career Grand Slam. The two have yet to meet in a major final, adding intrigue to the tournament's later stages.
Defending champion Madison Keys is seeded ninth, while Coco Gauff occupies the third seed spot. Other notable players include Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula, who are set for challenging fourth-round encounters.
Men's Draw: Alcaraz and Sinner Lead the Charge
In the men's competition, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the top two seeds. Alcaraz is on a quest for his first Australian Open title, which would make him the youngest man ever to achieve a career Grand Slam. Sinner, meanwhile, is targeting a hat-trick of victories in Melbourne. Historically, Alcaraz and Sinner could become the first pair to contest four consecutive Grand Slam finals since Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal did so between 2011 and 2012.
Novak Djokovic, the record ten-time champion in Melbourne, is seeded fourth and is projected to face Sinner in the semi-finals if both advance. Other key players include Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti, and Alex de Minaur, all of whom have progressed to the fourth round.
Seed Tracker: Men's and Women's Progress
Men's Seeds (Selected Highlights):
- Carlos Alcaraz [1] – Advances to fourth round vs. Tommy Paul [19].
- Jannik Sinner [2] – Advances to fourth round vs. Luciano Darderi [22].
- Novak Djokovic [4] – Advances to fourth round vs. Jakub Mensik [16].
- Felix Auger-Aliassime [7] – Knocked out in first round by Nuno Borges.
- Andrey Rublev [13] – Knocked out in third round by Francisco Cerúndolo [18].
Women's Seeds (Selected Highlights):
- Aryna Sabalenka [1] – Advances to fourth round vs. Victoria Mboko [17].
- Iga Swiatek [2] – Advances to fourth round vs. Maddison Inglis [Q].
- Coco Gauff [3] – Advances to fourth round vs. Karolina Muchova [19].
- Naomi Osaka [16] – Withdrew before third round due to abdominal injury.
- Belinda Bencic [10] – Knocked out in second round by Nikola Bartunkova [Q].
Broadcast Information
For viewers in the UK, the Australian Open is being broadcast live on TNT Sports and available for streaming on Discovery+. In the United States, coverage is provided by ESPN and Tennis Channel, ensuring fans can follow all the action from Melbourne.
