“It’s always the best feeling to get through your first round at your home slam, and to be able to be the first match to finish and the first Aussie through in the main draw is a really great feeling.”
Australian Talia Gibson during her first-round match against Anna Blinkova.Credit: Eddie Jim
This isn’t Gibson’s first rodeo. She also won her round-one match at the 2025 Australian Open before losing to Paula Badosa in the second round.
But she’s a different player now, having become more aware of the “damage” she can do on-court.
“Over the last year, I’ve been able to play against more of these players who are in the top 100, and I think it’s been really great for me to be able to see how much I am able to compete with these players,” Gibson said.
“The game that I have, I find myself in positions a lot of the time, being in control of points, and giving myself a lot of opportunities on the court. It’s very exciting for me and I hope to develop that a lot further.”
Gibson is among a group of emerging Australian talent that includes teenagers Maya Joint and Emerson Jones.
Top Australian woman Maya Joint.Credit: Eddie Jim
Joint shot up the rankings in 2025 to secure herself a seed at the 2026 Australian Open, and Gibson said she gained confidence from that when she set her own goals for the 2026 season.
“It’s been really exciting to see some of the Aussie girls really thrive over the last year and shoot through the rankings,” Gibson said.
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“I think [I] definitely try and take some confidence from that, but also at the same time know what I am capable of and remind myself of the achievements I’ve had over the last year.
“Having that in mind, for me, the main goal over this next year would be to try and get into that top 100 for the first time, and stay in there.”
Australian’s Tristan Schoolkate and Jason Kubler weren’t so lucky, with both being eliminated in straight sets in their opening rounds on Sunday.
Frenchman Corinten Moutet defeated Schoolkate 6-4, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, while American Frances Tiafoe had a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-2 victory over Kubler.
Read more on the 2026 Australian Open