Australian Open 2026: Sinner and Osaka advance, Bencic crashes out – live | Australian Open 2026

Key events

7m ago

Day six order of play

13m ago

Day five highlights

1h ago

Ruud defeats Munar 6-3, 7-5, 6-4

1h ago

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis knocked out of the doubles

2h ago

Bartunkova knocks out Bencic 6-3, 0-6, 6-4

2h ago

Rybakina beats Gracheva 7-5, 6-2

4h ago

Osaka beats Cirstea 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

4h ago

Sinner defeats Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

4h ago

Fritz beats Kopriva 6-1, 6-4, 7-6

4h ago

Tsitsipas goes out

4h ago

Wawrinka defeats Gea 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6

6h ago

Cilic beats Shapovalov 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

6h ago

Preamble

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Day six order of playRod Laver Arena

(1) Aryna Sabalenka v Anastasia Potapova
(2) Carlos Alcaraz v Corentin Moutet (32)
(29) Frances Tiafoe v Alex de Minaur (6)
Elena-Gabriela Ruse v Mirra Andreeva (8)

Margaret Court Arena

(11) Daniil Medvedev v Fabian Marozsan
(3) Coco Gauff v Hayley Baptiste
(12) Elina Svitolina v Diana Shnaider (23)
(10) Alexander Bublik v Tomas Etcheverry

John Cain Arena

(17) Victoria Mboko v Clara Tauson (14)
(19) Tommy Paul v Alex Davidovich Fokina (14)
(29) Iva Jovic v Jasmine Paolini (7)
(3) Alexander Zverev v Cameron Norrie (26)

Kia Arena

(25) Learner Tien v Nuno Borges
(Q) Zeynep Sonmez v Yulia Putintseva
(19) Karolina Muchova v Magda Linette
(18) Francisco Cerundolo v Andrey Rublev (13)

Updated at 09.01 EST

Day five highlights

Czech 19-year-old qualifier Nikola Bartunkova stunned Switzerland’s in-form Belinda Bencic, knocking out the 10th seed with a 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 victory. Elena Rybakina secured a comprehensive 7-5 6-2 victory over Varvara Gracheva, while Iga Swiatek blazed past Marie Bouzkova 6-2, 6-3.

Naomi Osaka’s three-set win over Sorana Cirstea was overshadowed by a post-game row, with the Romanian unhappy at Osaka for shouting between serves. Defending champion Madison Keys beat American compatriot Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5 and Jessica Pegula dominated another all-American battle against McCartney Kessler.

In the men’s draw, 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka marched on with a five-set victory over 21-year-old Arthur Gea, and will face Taylor Fritz in the third round. Jannik Sinner continued his pursuit of a third straight Australian Open title, sweeping past Australia’s James Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in under two hours.

Marin Cilic defeated Canada’s Denis Shapovalov to move into the third round, while Novak Djokovic barely broke a sweat in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win against qualifier Francesco Maestrelli. The 12th seed, Casper Ruud, saw off Spaniard Jaume Munar in straight sets, while No 5 seed Lorenzo Musetti outclassed his Italian counterpart Lorenzo Sonego.

Australian hopes Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis were dumped out of their doubles opener after a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-4) loss to compatriots Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans. Reuters

Updated at 08.53 EST

And with that, the final ball has been struck on a day when Sinner, Djokovic, Swiatek, Osaka, Keys, Rybakina, Anisimova, Fritz, Shelton, Pegula and Musetti all won, along with a record-breaking Wawrinka. But out have gone Bencic, Tsitsipas and Ostapenko. Coming up tomorrow: De Minaur v Tiafoe and Norrie v Zverev, along with Alcaraz, Sabalenka, Andreeva, Gauff, Medvedev, Svitolina, Paolini, Bublik and Rublev. See you for the night session. Bye!

“We’ve trained together at Rafa’s academy,” says Ruud. “It’s never easy to play someone you know well. Special thanks to everyone who stayed, I know it was cold.” He’s then asked about the situation back home. Will he be staying in Melbourne? “As far as I’m concerned yes. I’m going to check my phone right away when I get off court to see if anything has happened. Let’s see what the next days bring.”

ShareRuud defeats Munar 6-3, 7-5, 6-4

At 15-0, Ruud tugs a backhand into the tramlines. Think that caught a bit of his racket frame. But he’s shaking his racket in celebration after taking a short, sharp point for 30-15. A longer rally then plays out and Ruud, perhaps showing a bit of tension, makes the error. 30-all. 40-30 when Munar nets. Ruud hits deep and true … and Munar goes long. Ruud’s into the third round without dropping serve or a set. He could be a dark horse here … as long as his wife doesn’t go into labour, because then he plans to go home. His third-round meeting with Marin Cilic will be one to watch.

Ruud is a game away at 6-3, 7-5, 5-3. But Munar, who’s never made it past the second round in Melbourne and doesn’t look as if he’s going to change that record this year, is serving. At least he does have the distinction these days of being the highest-ranked Mallorcan in men’s tennis. He holds to 30 … and will now need to channel his inner Nadal if he’s to break Ruud for the first time in this match.

ShareKyrgios and Kokkinakis knocked out of the doubles

3-1 turns into 5-2. Kokkinakis is warming up his shoulder again before serving. He lands it, but Polmans pounces with a winning volley. 6-2. The only good news for Double K is that these aren’t match points; as it’s a deciding set they’ll play to 10 instead of seven. But Kubler and Polmans extend their advantage to 8-3, before Kyrgios balloons well long and now there are match points at 9-3. Six of them to be exact. The first is saved but not the second, as Kokkinakis’s return slides into the net. Kubler and Polmans advance 6-4, 4-6, 7-6. It’s been a memorable day for Kubler, after his fiance Madison Inglis won in the singles earlier to set up a third-round meeting with Naomi Osaka.

Updated at 07.55 EST

Into a deciding tie-break they go, after Kubler and Polmans hold from deuce. Kokkinakis is circling his shoulder and grimacing before he serves, Kyrgios looks like he’s a 100m sprinter about to burst out of the blocks as he ducks down at the net … and he then springs up to dispatch an angled forehand volley for 1-0. The next two points also go with serve and now there’s a disagreement about whether Kokkinakis touched the net while volleying. The computer says yes, so Kubler and Polmans get the first mini-break for 3-1.

Updated at 07.45 EST

Ruud, meanwhile, has broken for 6-3, 7-5, 2-1 and is looking very comfortable, quietly going about his business, as is his way. Having reached three slam finals and lost them all, he’s so often described as one of tennis’s nearly men, alongside Alexander Zverev, but I think it’s fairer to call him a talent maximiser – he’s made the most of his gifts and deserves much credit for that.

Casper Ruud in control. Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPAShare

Updated at 07.48 EST

Kokkinakis has had some treatment on his suspect shoulder too. It’s like the walking wounded out there.

Kubler and Polmans, wearing the most mismatching of pink tops (do they not swap style notes before the tournament?) advance to 40-15 and then game. It’s 5-5. And Krygios, who said he wasn’t fit enough to receive a wildcard in the singles, will serve next. With strapping above and below the left knee he had surgery on, and an ankle support for good measure too, Kyrgios holds to 30. He and Kokkinakis nudge 6-5 ahead and have guaranteed themselves at least a tie-break.

As for Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, they’re 4-4 in the deciding third set against Kubler and Polmans. Kyrgios is hurling his racket into the night skies after missing the chance to seal the game on Kokkinakis’s serve at 40-30. From deuce they get to advantage. But Polmans punches away a volley. Deuce again. Advantage again. The 2022 champions take the game when Kubler nets. They lead 6-4, 4-6, 5-4 on serve. And even though it’s 11.24pm in Melbourne, there’s barely a spare seat on the Kia Arena.

So, what’s left? Just Ruud v Munar and the Kyrgios/Kokkinakis show. The second set has been fairly attritional between Ruud and his Spanish opponent, but the 12th seed finally strikes in the 11th game, breaking from deuce with a forehand winner backed up by a backhand winner, so he’s serving for a two sets to love lead at 6-3, 6-5. Ruud works his way to 40-30, and closes out with an unreturned serve. It’s 6-3, 7-5.

Bencic, the 10th seed, had been considered a serious title contender here, having won all five of her singles matches at United Cup, including against Iga Swiatek, and rolling past Britain’s Katie Boulter in the first round on Tuesday. But her campaign is over, while Bartunkova can look ahead to a third-round meeting against Elise Mertens – so Bartunkova’s run may not end there. Mertens is an experienced competitor, no doubt, but there are much tougher draws in the last 32.

Updated at 07.09 EST

Bartunkova knocks out Bencic 6-3, 0-6, 6-4

Thanks Yara. Yes a result out of absolutely nowhere as the Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova, on her grand slam debut, takes out the form player of 2026, Belinda Bencic, in three sets. The 19-year-old collapses to the court when Bencic’s forehand misfires on match point and then runs into the stands to celebrate with her team as if she’s won the whole thing. Lovely scenes. Bartunkova somehow nervelessly served it out to love too. And all of this after she’d been on the wrong end of a second-set whitewash. There have been many Czech champions in tennis over the years, of course, and perhaps tonight we’ve seen the arrival of another.

Job done. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare

Updated at 07.11 EST

It is all happening on Stadium Australia … A huge shock is on the cards. Katy Murrells is back to bring you the latest.

ShareRybakina beats Gracheva 7-5, 6-2

Rybakina is applying all the pressure in this second set. Two aces and some beautiful shotmaking makes this a much easier affair than the opener and she sees out match point with a backhand. No reaction from the world No 5 as she is through to the third round.

The Melbourne crowd on the Kia Arena are clearly enjoying the all-Australian affair and are vocal in their support of Kokkinakis and Kyrgios. The chair umpire keeps trying to control the noise but Kyrgios is encouraging it, smirking at comments hurled his way. He hits a deep forehand deep and it’s just in to take the duo to set point … and Kubler and Polmans miss a return! Double K level it to take the second set amid all the antics.

Belinda Bencic, the No 10 seed, is locked in a tense battle against Nikola Bartunkova. The world No 133 gave Bencic no space to work with in the first set and saw out a 6-3 win. Bencic then won the second set in under half an hour, converting 100% of her break point to bagel her opponent. It is currently 3-3 in the third set.

Belinda Bencic with a forehand to Nikola Bartunkova. Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPAShare

Updated at 06.35 EST

Rybakina holds her nerve and wins the first set 7-5 with a break. In true Rybakina fashion, she remains stoic and goes to have a chat with her team. Ideally she would like to close out the second set against an unseeded player in a more comfortable fashion.

Updated at 06.24 EST

Ruud applauds Munar for saving a set point. The Norwegian leads 5-3 on Margaret Court but has been quite outspoken that his Australian Open run may be cut short at any point given that his partner is pregnant with their first child. “If she goes into labour I probably won’t be here the next day,” said Ruud after his first-round win.

Great response from Gracheva. She was so close to going 4-1 up and all of a sudden she was 5-3 down but she has bounced back to make it 5-5, with some great serves and a really strong few forehands. Rybakina’s forehand has been poor and she is murmuring towards her box for instruction.

Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are up 2-1 up in the second set after their underarm serves let them down in the first, losing 6-4 to fellow Australian duo Jason Kubler and Marc Polman.

As expected, Kyrgios has been warned by the chair umpire after a few verbal outbursts. He also threw his racket to the court in frustration at one point.

Nick Kyrgios with a word for Thanasi Kokkinakis. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 06.09 EST

Rybakina breaks back in style. Gracheva seems to have lost her momentum just as quick as she had it, netting two returns on her serve before the world No 5 hits a stunning forehand winner.

Elena Rybakina tosses to serve. Photograph: Aaron Favila/APShare

Updated at 06.06 EST

Rybakina’s first serve is down at 40% and she reacts with a sigh after a wild serve into the tramlines. But she saves two break points and manages to hold with a clean serve.

Hello all. Gracheva is 3-1 up against the former finalist Rybakina. The Frenchwoman, whose best grand slam showing was the fourth round at the 2024 French Open, got the break after a patient rally before serving out to hold.

Right, I’m off for a bit of a breather, so here’s Yara to keep you company …

Those are the only remaining singles matches today – while the final doubles match is pulling in the crowds on the Kia Arena because it’s Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis v another Australian wildcard pairing, Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans. Kyrgios and Kokkinakis are a set down 6-4.

Taking over from Sinner and Duckworth on Rod Laver is Elena Rybakina v Varvara Gracheva, while Casper Ruud and Jaume Munar are warming up on Margaret Court after Osaka’s victory. On the ANZ Arena Belinda Benic, who had looked in superb touch in the early stages of this season, has surprisingly lost the first set 6-3 against the Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova.

Osaka will face the qualifier Maddison Inglis, the last Australian woman standing in the singles, in the third round.

Updated at 05.31 EST

ShareOsaka beats Cirstea 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

It’s all ending at once, as Osaka absolutely rips a forehand winner to bring up two match points at 6-3, 4-6, 5-2. “COME ON!!!!” she screams, before getting the job done. But Cirstea doesn’t seem too happy about all the COME ONS and there’s no love lost between the two players at the net. It’s a shame Cirstea’s last Australian Open is ending under this cloud. Osaka seems a little upset when she speaks on court. “I’m sorry she was mad about it,” she says, close to tears, before cheering up as the interview progresses, especially when the inevitable jellyfish question comes. “It’s just something fun that I like to do on the court. I don’t really talk that much, but I like to express myself through clothes and I’m really glad that you guys loved it.”

Sorana Cirstea argues with Naomi Osaka at the net. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/ReutersShare

Updated at 05.48 EST

Sinner defeats Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

Osaka saves two break points to hold for 4-2, just as Sinner pulls a couple of aces out of his pack to serve out his match to love. Another straightforward win without any jeopardy for the 2X champion, who’ll face the American Eliot Spizzirri in the last 32.

“I don’t know him that well because we haven’t played yet,” Sinner admits, before saying of today’s match: “I’m very happy about my performance. I know he had so many surgeries, so it’s great to see him competing at the highest level.” He then thanks the Australian crowd for going easy on him despite him putting out a home player, before saying “my body feels good and the mind does too”. Which is ominous for the rest of the draw. Except perhaps a certain C Alcaraz.

Sinner is through. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPShare

Updated at 08.51 EST

Fritz beats Kopriva 6-1, 6-4, 7-6

On John Cain, Fritz is putting the finishing touches on a straight-sets win, 6-4 up in a third-set tie-break. A huge serve … and Kopriva can’t get it back into play. The sets got tougher as the match went on, but Fritz is looking in good form, and next has a potential cracker against Wawrinka. “I practised with Stan at the United Cup,” Fritz says after his win. “I knew he was playing well. It’s amazing what he’s still doing.”

Fritz is through! Photograph: Tingshu Wang/ReutersShare

Updated at 05.13 EST

Back to the business on Rod Laver and Margaret Court: Sinner has extended his supremacy over Duckworth to 6-1, 6-4, 4-1 and Osaka has thumped 10 winners en route to a 3-1 lead over Cirstea in the deciding set.

Updated at 05.29 EST