History was made at the Australian Open on Sunday as Elsa Jacquemot defeated No. 20 seed Marta Kostyuk 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 7-6(7) in the first triple-tiebreak match in Australian Open history. The 60th-ranked Frenchwoman saved a match point to complete the stunning upset in 3 hours and 31 minutes. Meanwhile, qualifier Zeynep Sonmez made Turkish tennis history by becoming the first Turkish woman to win a match at the Australian Open, upsetting No. 11 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova after fighting back from 3-0 down in the deciding set.
Historic triple-tiebreak thriller rocks Melbourne
Elsa Jacquemot delivered the first major upset of the Australian Open by defeating 20th seed Marta Kostyuk in unprecedented fashion. The match marked the first triple-tiebreak encounter in Australian Open history, with Jacquemot coming from a set and 5-3 down to secure her first career Top 20 victory. The turning point came when the Frenchwoman saved a match point while serving at 5-6 in the second set, using superb defensive skills to force Kostyuk into over-pressing. Kostyuk's 67 winners were overshadowed by 68 unforced errors as she struggled to maintain the fluidity that carried her to the Brisbane final earlier this month. Jacquemot's pressure point statistics told the story of her resilience - she won 35 of 53 serve pressure points while capitalizing on 11 of 37 return pressure opportunities. The 2020 Roland Garros junior champion, who cracked the Top 100 last year, mixed brilliant defense with well-timed aggression to complete the marathon victory.
Sonmez creates Turkish tennis history with comeback win
Qualifier Zeynep Sonmez etched her name in Turkish tennis history by becoming the first Turkish woman to win a match at the Australian Open, stunning 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5 4-6 6-4. The 23-year-old's victory was highlighted by a remarkable third-set comeback from 3-0 down, winning six of the final seven games to secure the second Top 20 win of her career. The momentum shift was sparked by a masterful rally construction point at 3-1, 15-30, where Sonmez opened the court with a powerful angled forehand before pulling Alexandrova into the net. Wild momentum swings defined the 2-hour, 37-minute encounter - Sonmez won the first set from 5-2 down with seven straight games, lost the second from 3-1 up as Alexandrova won eight of nine games, then dominated when it mattered most. Her pressure point execution was clinical, winning 32 of 49 serve pressure points and an impressive 21 of 39 return pressure opportunities to convert her fourth match point.
Sabalenka survives early test from wildcard
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka began her quest for a third consecutive Australian Open title with a 6-4 6-1 victory over wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah at Rod Laver Arena. The two-time champion admitted she struggled to find her rhythm early, with the young Frenchwoman testing her in the opening set before Sabalenka's experience and power took control. The turning point came in the final two games of the first set, where Sabalenka found her range and broke serve to close out the opener. The second set became a showcase of the top seed's dominance as her power overwhelmed Rakotomanga Rajaonah, who often hit returns into the net or beyond the baseline. Sabalenka's serving statistics reflected her growing comfort - she won an impressive 79% of first serve points while saving three of four break points faced. Her pressure point management was exemplary, winning six of nine serve pressure points while converting 12 of 30 return pressure opportunities.
Svitolina cruises past Bucsa in straight sets
Twelfth seed Elina Svitolina advanced to the second round with a convincing 6-4 6-1 victory over Cristina Bucsa. The Ukrainian former world No. 3 controlled proceedings from the baseline, breaking serve five times while dropping just one service game throughout the match. Bucsa, who had endured a difficult encounter against Sabalenka in Brisbane, struggled to find her timing and appeared to be carrying the mental burden from that previous defeat. Svitolina's clinical performance was highlighted by her pressure point conversion - she won 11 of 14 serve pressure points while capitalizing on 13 of 31 return pressure opportunities. The match served as an ideal preparation for Svitolina as she looks to build on her strong recent form, with her serve particularly impressive at 67% first serve points won.
Paolini dominates error-prone Sasnovich
Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini started her campaign with a comprehensive 6-1 6-2 victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich. The Italian looked solid throughout, particularly on serve where she won an impressive 76% of first serve points, while Sasnovich struggled with consistency and appeared tight throughout the encounter. Paolini revealed afterwards that she had forced herself to smile during the morning after realizing she hadn't done so naturally, showing her mental preparation for the match. The former world No. 5 broke serve four times while losing her own just once, demonstrating the improved serve that has been a focus of her recent development. Her pressure point statistics were exemplary - winning seven of eight serve pressure points while converting 12 of 26 return pressure opportunities. The dominant performance sets up Paolini well for what appears to be a favorable draw section.
Ruse ends Yastremska's Australian Open campaign
Elena Gabriela Ruse became the first player to eliminate a seed at the 2026 Australian Open, defeating 27th seed Dayana Yastremska 6-4 7-5 in a match marked by dramatic momentum swings. The Romanian extended her perfect head-to-head record against the Ukrainian to 4-0 despite a remarkable comeback attempt from Yastremska in the second set. After Ruse took the opening set, the second became a rollercoaster affair with Yastremska mounting a spirited fightback only to be broken again when serving to level the match. Ruse's serving was the foundation of her victory, winning nearly 79% of first serve points and saving three of six break points faced. Her pressure point execution proved decisive - she won eight of 15 serve pressure points while capitalizing on 16 of 36 return pressure opportunities. The victory improves on Ruse's second-round showing from last year and sets up an intriguing second-round encounter.
The opening round results set the tone for what promises to be an entertaining tournament, with multiple upsets already shaking up the draw. The surviving seeds will look to build momentum as they advance to the second round, while the upset victors aim to continue their giant-killing runs in Melbourne.