Exciting Upsets and Starts: Day One at the Australian Open

Day one of the Australian Open saw Ukrainian 26th seed Dayana Yastremska as the first seed eliminated, while Italian Jasmine Paolini secured a solid victory. Australian wildcard Talia Gibson captured her first main draw win. Intense demand led to a temporary halt of ground pass sales, highlighting the tournament's popularity.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Melbourne | Updated: 18-01-2026 07:53 IST | Created: 18-01-2026 07:53 IST
Exciting Upsets and Starts: Day One at the Australian Open
This image is AI-generated and does not depict any real-life event or location. It is a fictional representation created for illustrative purposes only.
  • Country:
  • Australia

Day one of the Australian Open began with a surprising turn of events as Ukrainian 26th seed Dayana Yastremska became the first singles seed to exit, following a defeat by Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Meanwhile, Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini swiftly moved past her competitor, Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, finishing 6-1, 6-2. In celebration, Paolini joyfully etched on a courtside camera lens that it was a Sunday well enjoyed.

Australian wildcard Talia Gibson created a career milestone by marking her first win in the main draw. Beating Russia's Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6-3, Gibson was overwhelmed with the audience support, expressing her gratitude towards the cheering crowd and their significant presence.

Tennis Australia's Tournament Director, Craig Tiley, pointed to the surging interest as ground pass sales had to be paused due to high demand. Attendees were, however, reassured of continued availability of stadium tickets, ensuring they could partake in the tennis festivities at Melbourne Park.

(With inputs from agencies.)

Give Feedback