A world No.1 night session with Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, plus the Aussie underdogs out to attack

The world no.1’s will headline Day 1 of the 2026 Australian Open when Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka take centre stage in night session on the 9Network, with coverage live and free tomorrow – Sunday, January 18 from 10.00am AEDT.

Sabalenka leads off the night session as she sets her sights on a third AO title, while Alcaraz begins his campaign for the only grand slam trophy missing from his cabinet straight afterwards on Channel 9. 

Throughout the day session, the Aussie contingent of Talia Gibson, Tristan Schoolkate and Jason Kubler will embrace the underdog spirit when they take on their higher ranked opponents, all before Adam Walton faces a herculean task against Alcaraz under lights on Rod Laver Arena. 

Men’s world no.3 and 2025 Australian Open runner up Alexander Zverev, women’s world no.7 Jasmine Paolini and former women’s world no.3 Maria Sakkari, begin their AO26 journeys during the day session on 9Now, where every match is available to stream live and free.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion, Venus Williams, is out to prove age is just a number in the night session on 9Gem, when the 45-year-old tour veteran becomes the oldest women to compete in the main draw of the Australian Open. Williams was a finalist in 2003 and 2017 and will compete as a wildcard this year.

Expert commentary throughout the tournament will be provided by Jim Courier, Jelena Dokic, John McEnroe, Todd Woodbridge, Lleyton Hewitt, Sam Stosur, Dylan Alcott, John Millman, Casey Dellacqua, Sam Smith and Alicia Molik.

Throughout the 2026 Australian Open, fans will have the ability to watch every point of every match, live and free on the device of their choosing on 9Now.

Day Session	11.00am AEDT – Sunday January 18
	TALIA GIBSON (AUS) v ANNA BLINKOVA
	TRISTAN SCHOOLKATE (AUS) v CORENTIN MOUTET (FRA) [32]
	JASON KUBLER (AUS) [Q] v FRANCES TIAFOE (USA) [29]
	ARTHUR FERY (GBR) [Q] v FABIO COBOLLI (ITA) [20]
	ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER) [3] v GABRIEL DIALLO (CAN)
Night Session	Begins 7.00pm AEDT
	ARYNA SABALENKA [1] v TIANTSOA RAKOTOMANGA RAJAONAH (FRA) [WC]
	CARLOS ALCARAZ (ESP) [1] v ADAM WALTON (AUS)
	VENUS WILLIAMS (USA) [WC] v OLGA DANILOVIC (SRB)
	EMMA RADUCANU (GBR) [28] v MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW (THA)
Stream – 9Now	Every Match, Every Court – Live and Free

Saturday 17 January, 2026