AO 2026 Day 2 Highlights: Rapid Recap and Key Moments
Day 2 of the AO 2026 turned out to be an eventful chapter in the tournament, highlighting remarkable performances and unexpected results. One of the key narratives was the ongoing journey of Stan Wawrinka, who impressed fans with his resilience and determination.
Stan Wawrinka Continues His Legacy
In his final season, the 40-year-old Wawrinka secured a place in the second round by overcoming Serbia’s Laslo Djere with a score of 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4). The Swiss player, who won the Australian Open men’s singles in 2014, expressed gratitude towards the fans, emphasizing their significance in his return.
Next Opponent: Arthur Gea
Wawrinka’s next match will be against Arthur Gea, a young player who achieved a stunning victory over the 17th seed, Jiri Lehecka, with a scoreline of 7-5, 7-6(1), 7-5.
Notable Upsets in the Men’s Draw
- 24th seed Arthur Rinderknech and 27th seed Brandon Nakashima also exited early.
- Canadian seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime retired due to a leg injury while trailing against Nuno Borges.
Women’s Singles Highlights
The women’s draw saw two seeded players eliminated. Emma Navarro, ranked 15, lost to former semifinalist Magda Linette, while 27th seed Sofia Kenin fell to Peyton Stearns.
Top Women’s Seeds Shine
- Iga Swiatek (6-time major champion) recovered from 3-5 in the first set to win against Yuan Yue (7-6[5], 6-3).
- Coco Gauff defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3.
- Amanda Anisimova triumphed over Simona Walter 6-3, 6-2.
- Jessica Pegula conceded only three games against Anastasia Zakharova.
Emerging Stars
Mirra Andreeva, fresh off her Adelaide championship, faced a tough match but ultimately triumphed over Croatia’s Donna Vekic (4-6, 6-3, 6-0). Canadian newcomer Victoria Mboko also made waves by defeating Emerson Jones 6-4, 6-1.
Star Performers in the Men’s Draw
Novak Djokovic, aiming for his 25th major title, marked his 100th Australian Open victory against Pedro Martinez with a dominant score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. The player celebrated his 398th Grand Slam match win.
Other Key Matches
- Alex de Minaur, the No. 6 seed, comfortably beat Mackenzie McDonald 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
- Daniil Medvedev had a successful start, defeating Jesper de Jong in straight sets.
- Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Tommy Paul also secured easy victories.
A Memorable Match for Jaume Munar
Spain’s Jaume Munar saved a match point in the fourth set, coming back to win in five sets against Dalibor Svrcina from Czechia, showcasing the fight and unpredictability of the tournament.
