Five sets for women? More entertainment? – where does 'Glastonbury of tennis' go next?
Once dubbed the ‘Happy Slam’ by Roger Federer, the innovative Australian Open has gone from strength to strength – but there have been signs of discontent.
Once dubbed the ‘Happy Slam’ by Roger Federer, the innovative Australian Open has gone from strength to strength – but there have been signs of discontent.
Frenchman Moise Kouame became the sixth-youngest man to qualify for an ATP Tour event since 2000 on Monday when he overcame countryman Clement Chidekh 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-3 at the Open Occitanie in Montpellier.
The wild card, aged 16 years and 10 months, defeated Elias Ymer in the first qualifying round and will now make his main draw debut against eighth seed and last year’s finalist Aleksandar Kovacevic. Kouame won two ITF World Tennis Tour titles last month.
Youngest Men to Qualify for ATP Tour event since 2000
| Player | Event | Age |
| Richard Gasquet | Monte-Carlo, 2002 | 15 years, 9 months |
| Ryan Harrison | Houston, 2008 | 15 years, 11 months |
| Richard Gasquet | Adelaide, 2003 | 16 years, 6 months |
| Rudolf Molleker | Hamburg, 2017 | 16 years, 8 months |
| Rafael Nadal | Monte-Carlo, 2003 | 16 years, 10 months |
| Moise Kouame | Montpellier, 2026 | 16 years, 10 months |
Kouame is the No. 552 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Frenchman competed in ATP Tour qualifying for the first time last year in Madrid, where he fell to Botic van de Zandschulp.
In main draw action on Day 1, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard retired from his match against Arthur Gea due to a eye injury. Gea led 5-3, 30/0 in the opening set when he hit a passing shot to Mpetshi Perricard’s backhand volley. The ball bounced from Mpetshi Perricard’s racquet into his eye. The former No. 29 player in the PIF ATP Rankings immediately fell to his knees and took a medical timeout.
The players contested just one more point, because Mpetshi Perricard retired one point after returning to the court. “It’s never easy to see a friend [injured],” Gea said. “It’s never easy to see this.”
Adrian Mannarino moved past Pedro Martinez 7-6(3), 6-1. Mannarino hit 14 aces and saved both break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Mannarino has now earned at least one ATP Tour win in 18 different seasons.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Novak Djokovic fell just short of winning his 25th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, where he battled Carlos Alcaraz in a tight four-setter in the final. But it was still a memorable tournament for the Serbian.
Djokovic made plenty of history throughout the fortnight, continuing to write and rewrite the record books.
ATPTour.com looks at just five of the historic achievements the 38-year-old earned at the season’s first major.
Record for most Australian Open wins
By reaching the Australian Open final, Djokovic now owns 104 wins at Melbourne Park, putting him in first place among both men and women in history. The Serbian passed Roger Federer, who won 102 Australian Open matches during his career.
Djokovic now owns at least 100 victories at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, making him the only player to achieve the feat at three different major tournaments.
Most Australian Open Singles Wins
| Player | Australian Open Wins |
| 1) Novak Djokovic | 104 |
| 2) Roger Federer | 102 |
| 3) Serena Williams | 92 |
| 4) Rafael Nadal | 77 |
| 5) Margaret Court | 60 |
First to reach 400 Grand Slam wins
Djokovic already held the record for most Grand Slam singles wins in history, but he reached a milestone this fortnight. The 24-time major champion became the first player to reach 400 major match wins, finishing the event with 402. Federer is second on the all-time list with 369, while Serena Williams is just behind with 367.
Oldest Australian Open finalist in Open Era
The 38-year-old became the oldest man in the Open Era to make the Australian Open final, breaking the record set by Ken Rosewall. The Australian reached the championship match in 1972 aged 37.
Extended Slam singles finals record
Djokovic had already held the mark for most Grand Slam singles finals in history with 37, but made his 38th to extend his record. He stood alone for the first time after making the 2023 Wimbledon final. Chris Evert is second on the list with 34.
Earned record for Slam finals after turning 35
This was the seventh time Djokovic has made a major final since turning 35, a new record for the Open Era. The Serbian was previously tied with Ken Rosewall (6). Williams did it five times and Federer on four occasions.
Emma Raducanu records her first win since out-of-sorts Australian Open performance and split from coach Francis Roig.
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. The tournament announced the news via social media on Monday.
The Spaniard lifted the trophy at the ATP 500 event last season but won’t return to defend his crown at the indoor hard-court event, which will be held from 9-16 February. Top 10 stars Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur will be in action in Rotterdam.
Carlos Alcaraz won’t defend his title in Rotterdam. The Australian Open champion concluded that after his exertions over the past two weeks, he needs more time to return to action.
We wish Carlos a swift recovery. 💚#ABNAMROOpen #RotterdamAhoy pic.twitter.com/hHQe6Pyxcm
— ABN AMRO Open (@abnamroopen) February 2, 2026
Alcaraz, 22, became the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam on Sunday at the Australian Open, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets. The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, a seven-time major champion, participated in a photoshoot at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne to celebrate on Monday.
Alcaraz has now won 15 Big Titles – a combination of Grand Slam championships, trophies at the Nitto ATP Finals and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Every major champion has their rituals, but Carlos Alcaraz might have the coolest one. For the Spaniard, trophies don’t just go on the shelf, they go under the skin. Wimbledon brought a strawberry, Roland Garros an Eiffel Tower and the US Open a bold design featuring the Statue of Liberty.
Now, having triumphed at the Australian Open to complete the Career Grand Slam, what tattoo will join the growing gallery?
“I’ve said it’s going to be a kangaroo, for sure, a little kangaroo,” Alcaraz said after he defeated Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final.
The only mystery left is placement. The leg is locked in, but right or left? That’s still under debate, with the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings joking that he has some time to decide.
“I don’t know where it’s going to be,” Alcaraz said. “It’s going to be in the leg, for sure. I don’t know the right, the left one. I have got to choose a good spot, but it’s going to be for sure close to the French Open or Wimbledon. I just have to choose.”
[NO 1 CLUB]Alcaraz has now captured seven majors and 15 Big Titles – a combination of Grand Slam championships, trophies at the Nitto ATP Finals and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals. Rival Sinner has 11. Alcaraz remains at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings following his run, 3,350 points clear of 2024 and 2025 Australian Open champion Sinner.
The Spaniard will leave Melbourne shortly, but before departing, the 22-year-old took part in a fun photoshoot on Monday at the Royal Exhibition Building, posing with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Belinda Bencic and Elina Svitolina become the first mothers to be ranked inside the world’s top 10 at the same time.
Carlos Alcaraz celebrated winning the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open on Sunday by stepping into the sun on Monday, when he enjoyed a photoshoot with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, dressed in all black, posed with the trophy during the shoot, which took place at the Royal Exhibition Building among gardens in central Melbourne.
Just a casual stroll in the park… as a Career Grand Slam Champion 😌 🏆#AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/uFRtkVdRtN
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 2, 2026
Entering this year’s Australian Open, the 22-year-old had one clear aim: to complete the Career Grand Slam. Having already triumphed on two occasions at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings was determined to complete the historic set in Melbourne.
Alcaraz did not drop a set en route to the last four, before he rallied from 3-5 down in the fifth set against Alexander Zverev to win the longest semi-final in tournament history (five hours, 27 minutes). Alcaraz then overcame 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic in the final to lift his seventh major and first in Australia.
Read more from the Australian Open
Carlos Alcaraz’s Career Grand Slam: Daring tennis, defining triumph
Alcaraz dents Djokovic’s Melbourne final perfection
Alcaraz stretches Big Titles lead over Sinner
Alcaraz on Career Grand Slam: ‘It is a dream come true’
The stunning facts tying Federer, Nadal & Alcaraz’s first Melbourne titles
It was the first time Djokovic had lost an Australian Open final, having previously held a perfect 10-0 record. With victory, Alcaraz levelled the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 5-5 and has defeated Djokovic in all three major finals they have played.
The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Alcaraz is next scheduled to play at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, which starts on Monday 9 February.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Carlos Alcaraz made history in Melbourne, where he completed the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open. While the 22-year-old Spaniard lifted the trophy, other stars enjoyed runs to rise in the PIF ATP Rankings. ATPTour.com looks at the movers of the week as of Monday 2 February.
No. 3 Novak Djokovic, +1
The Serbian reached his 38th major final at the Australian Open but fell just short of clinching a record-extending 25th Slam and 11th in Melbourne. Djokovic defeated Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals to return to a Slam final for the first time since Wimbledon 2024, when he also lost to Alcaraz. It is the first time the 38-year-old is inside the Top 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings since August 2024.
No. 24 Learner Tien, +5 (Career High)
The 20-year-old has climbed to a career high after he became the youngest American man to reach the quarter-finals of a major since 2002. The American earned an impressive straight sets win against Daniil Medvedev, improving to 3-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Tien ended 2025 in style when he lifted the Next Gen ATP Finals crown.
No. 54 Tomas Martin Etcheverry, +8
The Argentine is up eight spots following a productive week at the Australian Open. The 26-year-old earned two wins, including a five-set triumph against Miomir Kecmanovic, before he was stopped by Alexander Bublik.
No. 61 Marin Cilic, +9
The 37-year-old Croatian demonstrated that he is still a force to be reckoned with after a third-round showing in Melbourne. The 2018 finalist did not drop a set against Denis Shapovalov or Daniel Altmaier. Stan Wawrinka, 40, also performed impressively in Australia, becoming the oldest man to reach the third round since Ken Rosewall. The Swiss star is up 26 places to No. 113 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
No. 68 Ethan Quinn, +12
Quinn has jumped 12 places. The 21-year-old American beat seed Tallon Griekspoor and Hubert Hurkacz to advance to the third round at a major for the second time (Roland Garros 2025).
Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 7 Taylor Fritz, +2
No. 19 Francisco Cerundolo, +2
No. 27 Valentin Vacherot, +4 (Career High)
No. 30 Frances Tiafoe, +4
No. 71 Eliot Spizzirri, +14 Career High)
No. 80 Hamad Medjedovic, +10
No. 87 Alexander Shevchenko, +10
Casper Ruud and his wife Maria have announced that their daughter was born on 30 January. The No. 13 player in the PIF ATP Rankings posted on social media Sunday confirming the news.
“Thank you for all beautiful messages these last couple of weeks,” Ruud wrote on Instagram. “Maria and our baby are doing great.”
30.01.2026💗
Best feeling ever💗 pic.twitter.com/hwbGo17cJL— Casper Ruud (@CasperRuud98) February 1, 2026
A 14-time ATP Tour champion, Ruud spoke to ATPTour.com last month about his excitement at becoming a father for the first time.
“It’s really exciting. It’s something we’ve been looking forward to now for half a year, so time is running and it’s going to be a new chapter for us,” said Ruud. “[It will be] a new way of life on Tour and I very much look forward to it, knowing how close I’ve been with my own family and my father and also my mother.
“I look forward to hopefully becoming a good parent myself. Even though this life requires a lot of time, a lot of energy and a lot of travel and these things, I look forward to trying to be there as much as I can and when I have downtime — time off from the court — I will spend it where I want to go with my future daughter.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]