@OpenDrama /
Open Drama
Stars advance as surprising losses occur
Aryna Sabalenka / Coco Gauff / Carlos Alcaraz / Emma Raducanu / Venus Williams / Oleksandra Oliynykova / Marina Stakusic / Arthur Fery / Flavio Cobolli / Olga Danilovic / Zeynep Sonmez / Melbourne, Australia / Australian Open / Australian Open /

Story Stats

Last Updated
2/1/2026
Articles
111
Political leaning
Neutral

The Breakdown 86

  • The Australian Open is electrifying tennis fans as top seeds Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Carlos Alcaraz dominate their matches, all advancing to the third round with impressive performances.
  • Sabalenka, the top seed in women's singles, describes her journey as "crazy and surreal," while Gauff overcomes her serve struggles to demonstrate her class and power on the court.
  • Emma Raducanu's shocking exit in the second round raises eyebrows after she racks up numerous unforced errors, prompting questions about her path forward in the competitive landscape.
  • Controversy brews as Ukrainian player Oleksandra Oliynykova criticizes Sabalenka for competing amid the Ukraine conflict, calling for a ban on Russian and Belarusian players from the tour.
  • Historic moments unfold as 45-year-old Venus Williams, the oldest player to ever compete in the Australian Open, falls just short in a gripping first-round match against Olga Danilovic.
  • Young qualifier Arthur Fery creates a sensation by stunning 20th seed Flavio Cobolli, marking a remarkable debut and showcasing the unpredictability and excitement of the tournament.

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Articles

ESPN
Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff march on at Australian Open
BBC
Australian Open 2026: Emma Raducanu loses in second round - what went wrong?
Evening Standard
Emma Raducanu crashes out of Australian Open with error-strewn second-round defeat
The Australian Financial Review
Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka rejects Oleksandra Oliynykova’s call to ban Russians and Belarusians from tennis tour over Ukraine war
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