The excitement is palpable as we enter day three of the Australian Open 2026, with local talents Maya Joint and Taylah Preston ready to make their mark. Both aspiring athletes aim to secure their first main draw victories at this prestigious tournament held in their home country. The renowned Rod Laver Arena will also feature several former champions, such as Jannik Sinner, Naomi Osaka, and Madison Keys, adding to the thrill of the event.
Stay tuned for all the latest updates from Melbourne Park through our live blog below.
Key Events
1.
Just moments ago, at midnight AEDT on January 20, 2026, the excitement is building.
2.
Earlier last night, at 11:41 PM AEDT on January 19, 2026, preparations were underway.
Pinned Key Event
Approximately one hour ago, at 11:09 PM AEDT on January 19, 2026, the stage was set for Australian players.
By Jon Healy
Here’s a quick rundown of when local players will take to the court for singles matches at Melbourne Park today (all times are in AEDT):
Live Matches:
- Maya Joint (30) vs. Tereza Valentova on John Cain Arena
- Shuai Zhang vs. Taylah Preston (WC) on Kia Arena
Upcoming Matches:
- Christopher O'Connell (WC) vs. Nishesh Basavareddy (Q) second match on ANZ Arena
- Gael Monfils vs. Dane Sweeny (Q) third on Kia Arena
- James Duckworth (WC) vs. Dino Prizmic (LL) third on Court Six
- Daria Kasatkina vs. Nikola Bartunkova (Q) fourth on ANZ Arena
- Kim Birrell vs. Maddison Inglis (Q) fourth on John Cain Arena
Key Event
Just moments ago, at midnight AEDT on January 20, 2026, two Australians are kicking off the day’s events.
By Jon Healy
Seeded at number thirty, Maya Joint, alongside wildcard Taylah Preston, are both set to compete in the opening matches. In just a few moments, Joint will face world number 54, Tereza Valentova, on John Cain Arena, while Preston, aged 20, will take on world ranked 75, Shuai Zhang, on Kia Arena. Both players are eager to claim their first main draw wins at this grand slam event.
22 minutes earlier
At 11:50 PM AEDT on January 19, 2026, some news surfaced regarding Casper Ruud.
By Jon Healy
Casper Ruud, seeded twelfth from Norway, triumphed over Mattia Bellucci the previous night. However, his thoughts were focused elsewhere immediately after the match concluded. His partner, Maria, is at home nearing her due date, which has prompted Ruud to consider an early departure from Melbourne if he receives a call. "Except when I'm playing, my phone remains on 24/7 in case she calls. If she goes into labor, I likely won’t be here the next day. Tennis isn’t everything; I’m committed to staying as long as I can—and until Maria says otherwise."
28 minutes earlier
At 11:43 PM AEDT on January 19, 2026, fans were buzzing about another beloved player.
By Jon Healy
"Didn’t Gael Monfils announce his retirement from the Australian Open last year? If not, how old is he now?" asked a curious fan named Leon. As witnessed yesterday with Stan Wawrinka extending his Australian Open journey, today, Gael Monfils, a crowd favorite from France, takes the court. Monfils revealed back in October that 2026 would mark the final chapter of his professional career. This afternoon, he will compete against Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny on Kia Arena.
Key Event
31 minutes ago, at 11:41 PM AEDT on January 19, 2026, a spotlight was cast on past champions.
By Jon Healy
Rod Laver Arena is showcasing a wealth of experience, featuring no less than five former Australian Open champions today. Kicking off the matches is Madison Keys, the reigning women's champion seeded ninth, who will face Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova. Next, her fellow American Ben Shelton is set to compete against France's Ugo Humbert—though neither holds a championship title. The night session promises to be exhilarating, with two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner squaring off against Hugo Gaston, followed by 2019 and 2021 winner Naomi Osaka competing against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic.
59 minutes ago
At 11:13 PM AEDT on January 19, 2026, the welcoming message for day three at the Australian Open was shared.
By Jon Healy
And just like that, we’re concluding the initial round of singles matches as day three commences at Melbourne Park. Today, we have eight local talents, along with several former champions, kicking off their grand slam campaigns. Our dedicated team is geared up to bring you all the thrilling action, so let’s dive right in!
