The Australian Open delivered a compelling mix of dominance and drama on Day 3 in Melbourne, as Belinda Bencic extended her remarkable winning streak while unseeded players struck major upsets against established seeds. The Swiss star crushed Katie Boulter 6-0, 7-5 to tie her career-best run at 12 consecutive victories, carrying her United Cup momentum straight into Melbourne. Meanwhile, Janice Tjen made history for Indonesian tennis by stunning No. 22 seed Leylah Fernandez, while defending champion Madison Keys survived an early scare on Rod Laver Arena.
Bencic's world continues with career-best streak
Belinda Bencic made her Australian Open return look effortless, dismantling Katie Boulter 6-0, 7-5 to extend her active winning streak to 12 matches - matching the longest tour-level run of her career. The No. 10 seed has not lost a match since her defeat to Jasmine Paolini in Ningbo last October, claiming her 10th WTA title in Tokyo before her unbeaten United Cup campaign where she earned tournament MVP honors. Her dominance was evident in the pressure moments, winning 11 of 22 return pressure points while staying rock-solid on serve with a 78% first-serve winning percentage. The Swiss star saved 2 of 3 break points faced and converted 5 of 11 opportunities against Boulter's serve, showcasing the clinical form that carried Switzerland to the United Cup final just two weeks ago.
Tjen makes Indonesian history with Fernandez upset
Janice Tjen delivered a stunning 6-2, 7-6(1) victory over No. 22 seed Leylah Fernandez to become the first Indonesian player to win an Australian Open main-draw match since Yayuk Basuki in 1998. The world No. 59 followed up her US Open upset of Veronika Kudermetova with another seeded scalp, controlling the match from the opening set before closing out the tiebreak with authority. Tjen's aggressive serving paid dividends as she won 16 of 24 serve pressure points while capitalizing on 10 of 20 return pressure opportunities. Her four aces and solid 74% first-serve winning percentage kept Fernandez off balance throughout the 1 hour and 43-minute encounter, marking just the second Grand Slam victory of her career and her tournament debut in Melbourne.
Keys survives Ukrainian debutant's early assault
Defending champion Madison Keys experienced an uncomfortable Rod Laver Arena opener before eventually subduing tour debutant Oleksandra Oliynykova 7-6(6), 6-1. The Ukrainian world No. 92 stunned the capacity crowd by racing to a 4-0 first-set lead and holding two set points, showcasing the creative variety and defensive skills that had never been tested at tour level. Keys' experience eventually told as she saved crucial break points in the opener before dominating the second set, winning 14 of 25 return pressure points while settling into her rhythm. The American's 72% first-serve winning percentage helped her weather the early storm, though eight double faults highlighted some early nerves in her title defense debut.
Siegemund saves two match points in Samsonova thriller
Laura Siegemund produced one of the day's most dramatic comebacks, saving two match points to defeat No. 18 seed Liudmila Samsonova 0-6, 7-5, 6-4 in a remarkable turnaround. The German veteran looked completely overwhelmed in the opening set but gradually found her rhythm to complete an improbable three-set victory. Siegemund's resilience shone through in the pressure moments, winning 16 of 32 serve pressure points while converting crucial break opportunities when it mattered most. Her ability to save 9 of 15 break points faced proved decisive against the hard-hitting Russian, who couldn't maintain her early dominance as the match extended past two hours.
Rybakina cruises past Juvan in straight sets
Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina made short work of Kaja Juvan 6-4, 6-3 to advance smoothly to the second round. The No. 5 seed was dominant on serve throughout, winning 83% of her first-serve points and firing five aces past the Slovenian. Rybakina's precision under pressure was evident as she won 4 of 5 serve pressure points while converting both break point opportunities that came her way. The Kazakhstani's powerful groundstrokes kept Juvan on the defensive throughout the 1 hour and 20-minute encounter, setting up a second-round clash as she seeks her second Grand Slam title.
Cirstea battles past Lys in three-set grinder
Sorana Cirstea overcame a slow start to defeat Eva Lys 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a hard-fought baseline battle between two experienced campaigners. The Romanian veteran found her serving rhythm after the opening set, firing nine aces and winning 20 of 34 serve pressure points to turn the match around. Cirstea's improved return game in the final two sets proved crucial, as she broke serve five times total while saving 7 of 11 break points faced. The three-set victory showcased the 34-year-old's fighting spirit as she ground out the win in challenging conditions.
Grabher upsets Cocciaretto in three-set battle
Julia Grabher delivered another upset by defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in a roller-coaster encounter filled with momentum shifts. The Austrian world No. 95 showed tremendous resilience after dropping the second set, winning 26 of 43 serve pressure points across the three-set marathon. Despite 10 double faults, Grabher's five aces and aggressive return game helped her prevail in the crucial moments. Her ability to save 10 of 16 break points faced proved decisive against the Italian, who couldn't maintain her middle-set dominance when it mattered most in the decider.
Osaka survives three-set test against Ruzic
Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka needed three sets to overcome Croatian Antonia Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in her return to Melbourne Park. The former world No. 1 struck 11 aces but struggled with consistency, converting just 5 of 12 break point opportunities in a match that lasted over two hours. Osaka's serve pressure statistics of 10 from 20 reflected the challenging nature of the encounter, though she ultimately found her timing when it counted most. The Japanese star's return to the Australian Open where she claimed titles in 2019 and 2021 got off to a successful if unsteady start, as she advances to face her next opponent in pursuit of a third Melbourne crown.
As the Australian Open moves into its second round, the early upsets have opened up potential pathways while established stars like Bencic continue their impressive form. With several seeds already eliminated, the tournament's unpredictable nature is already evident in these opening rounds.
Looking ahead to Wednesday
The Australian Open second round continues Wednesday with American star Coco Gauff looking to advance past Serbia's Olga Danilovic in their first career meeting. The third seed arrives in excellent form with a three-match winning streak, while rising Russian talent Mirra Andreeva faces a stern test against veteran Maria Sakkari in what promises to be a generational clash. The day also features intriguing matchups between Jasmine Paolini and Magdalena Frech, plus Emma Raducanu taking on Anastasia Potapova.
Gauff seeks comfortable passage against Serbian challenger
Coco Gauff enters her clash with Olga Danilovic as the heavy favorite, but the Serbian has shown glimpses of her talent when healthy. Gauff's hard court record over the past 12 months tells the story of a player finding her rhythm on her preferred surface, posting a solid 25-12 record while averaging 2.8 aces per match. Her tiebreak record of 7-2 demonstrates composure in crucial moments, a skill that could prove decisive if this match goes the distance.
Danilovic's limited hard court sample of 7-9 over the past year masks her potential threat. The world No. 69 actually averages more aces per match than Gauff at 3.8, and her break point defense sits at a respectable 57.9%. However, her return statistics reveal vulnerability - managing just 30.6% of points won against first serves compared to Gauff's more aggressive 39.9%. This first meeting between the pair should favor the American's superior court position and current form, but Danilovic's power game could create some uncomfortable moments.
Youth meets experience as Andreeva battles Sakkari
The most compelling matchup of the day features 17-year-old sensation Mirra Andreeva against seasoned competitor Maria Sakkari in their first career encounter. Andreeva arrives with an outstanding 25-8 hard court record over the past year, riding a five-match winning streak that has elevated her to seventh in the world rankings. Her pressure point statistics are particularly impressive, saving 62.7% of break points faced while converting 49.2% of her opportunities.
Sakkari faces a challenging period in her career, reflected in her 14-17 hard court record and disappointing 2-6 tiebreak record over the past 12 months. The Greek veteran's serving has remained solid at 61.4% first serve points won, but her return game has struggled against quality opposition. At 53.4% break points saved, she's shown vulnerability under pressure - exactly where the young Russian excels. This generational clash could hinge on Sakkari's experience versus Andreeva's fearless aggression and superior current form.
Paolini favored despite recent struggles
Jasmine Paolini takes on Magdalena Frech in a rematch of their Cleveland encounter from August 2023, where the Italian prevailed. Despite ranking 49 places higher, Paolini enters with concerning form having won just four of her last ten matches. Frech's 6-4 recent record suggests better rhythm, though her 44% hard court win rate over the past year indicates inconsistency. Paolini's superior tiebreak record of 6-3 compared to Frech's 4-4 could prove crucial in what shapes up as an evenly matched encounter.
Li looks to maintain edge over Linette
Ann Li and Magda Linette renew their rivalry after Li won their last meeting in Cincinnati 2023. The American brings superior hard court form with a 60.6% win rate and strong serving statistics, including 4.9 aces per match. Linette's remarkable 6-0 tiebreak record over the past year stands out as her potential weapon, though Li's 66.7% tiebreak success rate suggests she won't be intimidated. Li's better return numbers against both first and second serves give her the statistical edge in this closely matched affair.
Battle of the struggling servers
Elena Gabriela Ruse faces Ajla Tomljanovic in a matchup between two players seeking consistency. Both have shown serving vulnerabilities - Ruse averages 5.1 double faults per match while Tomljanovic commits 6.6. However, the Australian's extraordinary 11-1 tiebreak record over the past year could prove decisive if this match extends. Ruse's concerning 0-4 tiebreak record and poor 28.6% hard court win rate make Tomljanovic the safer choice despite their even ranking positions.
Raducanu seeks momentum against Potapova
Emma Raducanu meets Anastasia Potapova in their first career encounter, with both players looking to build on decent recent form. Raducanu's 4-6 record in her last ten matches shows she's still finding her rhythm, but her superior break point conversion rate of 50.6% gives her an edge in crucial moments. Potapova's 57.1% hard court success rate over the past year slightly edges Raducanu's 51.5%, setting up an intriguing battle between the former US Open champion's big-match experience and the Russian's superior recent consistency.
Wednesday's action could significantly reshape the second week picture, with Gauff and Andreeva expected to advance but several intriguing battles capable of producing surprises. The combination of youth, experience, and players seeking to rediscover their best form promises compelling viewing from Melbourne Park.