{"id":426792,"date":"2026-01-21T02:42:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T02:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/426792\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T02:42:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T02:42:15","slug":"australian-open-2026-live-talia-gibson-kicks-off-second-round-on-day-four-aryna-sabalenka-and-carlos-alcaraz-on-rod-laver-arena","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/426792\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Open 2026 live: Talia Gibson kicks off second round on day four, Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz on Rod Laver Arena"},"content":{"rendered":"

3h agoTue 20 Jan 2026 at 11:24pmAussies in action on day four at the Australian Open\"Jon<\/p>\n

Here are all the local hopes in action in the singles on day four at Melbourne Park (all times AEDT).<\/p>\n

Live:<\/p>\n

Diana Shnaider (23) vs\u00a0Talia Gibson (WC)\u00a0on Kia ArenaHailey Baptise vs\u00a0Storm Hunter (Q)\u00a0on ANZ Arena<\/p>\n

Coming up:<\/p>\n

Ajla Tomljanovic vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse from 5pm on John Cain ArenaNuno Borges vs Jordan Thompson (WC) third on 1573 ArenaAlex de Minaur (6) vs Hamad Medjedovic from 7pm on Rod Laver ArenaIva Jovic (29) vs Priscilla Hon (WC)\u00a0last on Rod Laver Arena<\/p>\n

2m agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 2:39am<\/p>\n

Francisco Cerundolo and Tommy Paul the first men through to the third round\"Jon<\/p>\n

We have our first third-round entrants on the men’s side of the draw.<\/p>\n

Tommy Paul could be up against giant countryman Reilly Opelka or 14th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who have just stepped on court.<\/p>\n

Cerundolo will face either 13th seed Andrey Rublev or Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria, who’ve just started their fourth set on Margaret Court Arena.<\/p>\n

15m agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 2:26amTalia Gibson has been knocked out of the Australian Open\"Jon\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

Australian wildcard Talia Gibson is crestfallen as she nets a forehand to surrender the third set and the match against 23rd seed Diana Shnaider to end her run at her home slam.<\/p>\n

Gibson finishes with 49 unforced errors to Shnaider’s 25 and six double faults, all in the final two sets.<\/p>\n

The loss is a painful one for the 21-year-old after she had three match points in one game in the second set.<\/p>\n

“She played amazing and it was very hard to believe that I can pull this out and win this match,” Shnaider says.<\/p>\n

“On match point I was just like ‘OK, I need to go for it because if I’m not going for it, she’s going for it’.”<\/p>\n

Up next for Shnaider is Ukrainian 12th seed Elina Svitolina.<\/p>\n

“Next match I’m not playing against an Aussie so I hope there’s going to be more support next match.”<\/p>\n

24m agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 2:17amStorm Hunter on court for her second round\"Jon<\/p>\n

Australian qualifier Storm Hunter is up against American Hailey Baptiste on ANZ Arena.<\/p>\n

In a strange twist, Baptiste’s first-round match was against Taylor Townsend, who Hunter beat in qualifying to make it into the main draw.<\/p>\n

Townsend got into the draw as a lucky loser after Marketa Vondrousova withdrew due to injury.<\/p>\n

34m agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 2:07am<\/p>\n

Gibson’s advantage disappears in a flash\"Jon\"\"(AAP)<\/p>\n

After quickly going up a break and 2-0 in the third and deciding set against Diana Shnaider, Australian wildcard Talia Gibson is suddenly down 3-2 with Shnaider serving after surrendering three straight games.<\/p>\n

The way this match has gone, I wouldn’t rule anything out, but that’s a rough start for the 21-year-old.<\/p>\n

45m agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:56amSabalenka closes out Bai to move into third round\"Chris\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

Imperious stuff in the second set from the world No.1 as she easily disposes of Bai 6-3, 6-1.<\/p>\n

It was a gallant effort from the world No.702, but she didn’t have enough in the tank to battle the power of Sabalenka.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka calls it a “tricky” match and mentions how she had to keep her composure when Bai started “crushing it” late in the first set.<\/p>\n

She says she kept telling herself that it was only a matter of time before the tide would turn back her way.<\/p>\n

That’s where Sabalenka has really improved as she’s gotten older and more experienced. She’s so composed mentally during the highs and lows of any given match.<\/p>\n

47m agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:54am<\/p>\n

Talia Gibson gets the early break in the decider\"Jon<\/p>\n

A massive early win for Australian wildcard Talia Gibson, taking a 2-0 lead in the third set against 23rd seed Diana Shnaider.<\/p>\n

54m agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:47am<\/p>\n

New AO crowd favourite advances to third round\"Jon<\/p>\n

Court seven erupts as Turkish qualifier Zeynep S\u00f6nmez makes it through to the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Hungary’s Anna Bondar.<\/p>\n

She next faces Yulia Putintseva or Elsa Jacquemot, who just stepped onto court five.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:41am<\/p>\n

Gibson and Shnaider heading to a third set\"Jon\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

Brutal stuff for Australian wildcard Talia Gibson, who misses out on three match points at 4-5 and suddenly finds herself off to a deciding third set just a few minutes later.<\/p>\n

She was so close to taking down 23rd seed Diana Shnaider but now has to flush that from her memory and refocus for the third.<\/p>\n

One of Gibson’s coaches tells her that Shnaider “doesn’t have your motor” and another reminds her of a gutsy three-hour win over Argentina’s Solana Sierra in the third round of Wimbledon qualifying.<\/p>\n

“Do it again,” he says.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:36am<\/p>\n

Sabalenka takes stranglehold of second set\"Chris<\/p>\n

The world No.1 has raced out to another quick 2-0 lead courtesy of an early break in the second set.<\/p>\n

Bai has made Sabalenka work hard for these points though, which is a stark contrast to how things were going at the start of the first set.<\/p>\n

She’s gotten a lot more comfortable as the match has worn on and while she may not possess the power of Sabalenka, her placement on some winners have been excellent.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:33amThree match points go begging for Talia Gibson\"Jon\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

Sensational defence from Talia Gibson earns her three match points on Diana Shnaider’s serve at 4-5, but the Russian 23rd seed fights them all off.<\/p>\n

She eventually holds for 5-5 in the second set as Gibson badly miscues a down-the-line backhand.<\/p>\n

And now Shnaider is serving for the set after breaking Gibson thanks to the Aussie’s third double fault of the set.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:31am<\/p>\n

Elina Svitolina is the first player through to the third round of the singles\"Jon\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

The Ukrainian flag continues to fly at the Australian Open as the 12th seed books her place in the third round with a decisive 7-5, 6-1 win over Polish qualifier Linda Klimovicova.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:26am<\/p>\n

Gutsy Gibson breaks back in second set\"Jon<\/p>\n

Aussie wildcard Talia Gibson is one game away from knocking out 23rd seed Diana Shnaider after recovering from a break down in the second set.<\/p>\n

She’s rattled off three straight games to get back to 5-4 as Shnaider sprays a drive volley long from the net.<\/p>\n

That shot suggests to me that Shnaider’s feeling the pressure a little.<\/p>\n

She’s also not thrilled with the crowd extended the cheers for Gibson a little too long as she prepares to serve.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:23am<\/p>\n

Sabalenka finally claims first set after struggle\"Chris<\/p>\n

What a fascinating set of tennis that was!<\/p>\n

It was a set of two halves really. Aryna Sabalenka raced out to a 5-0 lead in 16 minutes, but had to slug it out for another 23 minutes before she won the sixth game, eventually winning the set 6-3.<\/p>\n

Bai incredibly saved SIX separate set points before the world No.1 was able to close it out on the seventh.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:06am<\/p>\n

Bai continues to frustrate Sabalenka\"Chris<\/p>\n

Are we seeing the tide turn on Rod Laver Arena?<\/p>\n

\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

Aryna Sabalenka puts her face in her towel as she sits down for a break having failed to serve out the set.<\/p>\n

Bai holding serve and then breaking the world No.1 to draw to within 5-2.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:02am<\/p>\n

Bai avoids the bagel\"Chris<\/p>\n

Bai with a fist pump as she lashes home a forehand winner to win her first game of the match.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka still well in control though, leading 5-1 in the set and she’s looking to serve it out.<\/p>\n

The crowd once again with the loudest cheer of the match for the Bai winner.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 1:00am<\/p>\n

Priscilla Hon’s dream comes true tonight\"Jon<\/p>\n

Australian wildcard Priscilla Hon had only won one main draw singles match at the Australian Open before this week.<\/p>\n

Tonight she plays on centre court at home grand slam.<\/p>\n

Loading Instagram content<\/p>\n

Siri, play Dreams Can Come True by Gabrielle.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 12:54amIt’s Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day at the Australian Open\"Jon<\/p>\n

Day four is Evonne Goolagong Cawley day at AO26.<\/p>\n

\"\"Evonen Goolagong presented the winner’s trophy last year on the 50th anniversary of her third straight AO title. (Getty)<\/p>\n

The recognition of the four-time Australian Open winner and Indigenous icon features a Welcome To Country with a smoking ceremony, performances from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance groups, live music including didgeridoo performances, First Nations art exhibitions, soundscapes and Indigenous ballkids taking centre stage on court.<\/p>\n

The young fella who tossed the coin for Aryna Sabalenka and Zhuoxuan Bai on Rod Laver Arena (sounded like his name was Kyrie) was rocking an Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land T-shirt.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Supplied: Stan)<\/p>\n

He also chose to have Bai call the toss and I always respect offering the option to the lower-ranked, infinitely less famous player.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 12:51am<\/p>\n

Bai receives cheers after winning her first point\"Chris<\/p>\n

Aryna Sabalenka off to a blistering start against Bai Zhuoxuan on Rod Laver Arena.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka broke her Chinese opponent’s first service game of the match, holding her to love.<\/p>\n

After nine consecutive Sabalenka points to start the match, Bai wins one courtesy of an unforced error, and the Rod Laver Arena crowd erupts.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Sabalenka is in cruise control out here, currently up 3-0 in the first set.<\/p>\n

1h agoWed 21 Jan 2026 at 12:47amTalia Gibson goes up a set against the 23rd seed\"Jon\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

After winning just one game in her only previous grand slam second-round match, Australian wildcard Talia Gibson is now just one set away from progressing after an impressive display in the opener against 23rd seed Diana Shnaider.<\/p>\n

Gibson powered down four aces and 14 winners as her pace clearly troubled the more experienced Shnaider.<\/p>\n

Gibson looks incredibly composed considering how rarely she’s been on this stage, landing 68 per cent of her first serves with no doubles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"3h agoTue 20 Jan 2026 at 11:24pmAussies in action on day four at the Australian Open Here are…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":426793,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[565],"tags":[64302,18278,4909,64,63,6571,962,1806,4125,70623,85,52477,747],"class_list":["post-426792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tennis","tag-ajla-tomljanovic","tag-alex-de-minaur","tag-aryna-sabalenka","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-open","tag-carlos-alcaraz","tag-grand-slam","tag-live","tag-priscilla-hon","tag-sports","tag-talia-gibson","tag-tennis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=426792"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426792\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/426793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=426792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=426792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=426792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}