World number one Carlos Alcaraz has smoothly progressed to the third round of the Australian Open, following a commanding straight-sets victory over Germany's Yannick Hanfmann. The Spanish sensation secured the win with a scoreline of 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2, showcasing his formidable form early in the 2026 season.
Federer's Influence Off the Court
In a fascinating revelation, Alcaraz disclosed that his preparations for the match included a leisurely round of golf in Melbourne with the legendary Roger Federer. The young star was effusive in his praise for the Swiss maestro's skills on the golf course, drawing a direct comparison to his iconic tennis style.
"It's as beautiful as his tennis," Alcaraz remarked about Federer's golf swing. "I'm not surprised. It's unbelievable. Everything he does, he does in style, really beautiful. On the golf course, it's a really beautiful swing."
A Growing Golf Obsession
Alcaraz has developed a significant passion for golf in recent years, frequently using the sport as a means to relax between intense tennis matches during tournaments. He expressed both admiration and a touch of frustration at Federer's rapid improvement, noting the 20-time Grand Slam champion's natural aptitude.
"I think he has been playing for two years now and his level is really good," Alcaraz said. "I've been playing five and he's already beating me. It hurts."
Building Momentum in Melbourne
On the court, Alcaraz demonstrated why he holds the top ranking, navigating a tight first-set tie-break before dominating the remainder of the match. His performance sets up an intriguing third-round encounter against French 32nd seed Corentin Moutet. A victory would edge the 22-year-old closer to becoming the youngest male player ever to achieve a career Grand Slam.
Norrie's Nerve-Holding Victory
In other action, Britain's Cameron Norrie remains the sole British representative in the tournament after a tense four-set victory over American Emilio Nava. The 26th seed triumphed 6-1, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5) in a match that featured a dramatic weather interruption.
Rain Delay Drama
The climax of the match was suspended unexpectedly when heavy rain halted play during the fourth-set tie-break, with Norrie leading 4-3. After an hour's delay, the British player returned to court remarkably composed, closing out the match upon resumption.
"I was just laughing to myself," Norrie reflected. "Actually felt so relaxed when I came out afterwards. It was quite tough for the fans. There was a lot of atmosphere building and it was completely packed. It felt like everyone was on top of the court yelling. It was a shame that the match couldn't have finished there with all the atmosphere building. But I managed to come back, serve well, and tough out one rally. That was enough."
A Daunting Next Challenge
Norrie now faces a formidable third-round opponent in third seed Alexander Zverev, last year's finalist, who advanced with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over France's Alexandre Müller. Norrie acknowledged the scale of the challenge but expressed excitement for the contest.
"So excited," he said. "He's one of the most consistent players on the tour. I think he loves playing me. Every time we play we have such high-level matches. He always beats me. The last maybe four or five times. We always have close sets, close matches. I played him in the fourth round here, lost 7-6 in the fifth before. But he's one of the best competitors out there. I'm excited. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling my game good."
Women's Draw Progress
In the women's singles, American star Coco Gauff continued her confident march through the draw, securing a straightforward 6-2, 6-2 victory over Olga Danilovic to reach the third round. Meanwhile, world number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a brief first-set challenge from Chinese opponent Bai Zhuoxuan to win 6-3, 6-1, maintaining her strong start to the tournament.
