The Australian Open 2026 offered fans a packed schedule of practice sessions on Saturday, giving spectators the chance to watch some of the biggest names in tennis prepare for the tournament. From early morning until late afternoon, Rod Laver Arena and surrounding courts were filled with energy as stars fine-tuned their games.
Morning highlights
The day began at 9.30 am with Maya Joint stepping onto the court, followed by Naomi Osaka at 9.45 am. Belinda Bencic continued the flow at 10.00 am, while Frances Tiafoe brought his trademark flair at 10.15 am. Emma Raducanu drew strong attention at 11.00 am, showcasing her sharp baseline play. Alexei Popyrin followed at 11.45 am, energizing the home crowd.
Midday sessions
The midday lineup featured some of the tournament’s biggest contenders. Jannik Sinner practiced at 12.00 pm, while Carlos Alcaraz joined Lorenzo Musetti at 12.15 pm for a joint session that drew large crowds. Coco Gauff took the court at 12.30 pm, followed by Casper Ruud and Stan Wawrinka at 12.45 pm. Madison Keys rounded out the early afternoon at 1.00 pm, before Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz shared the court at 1.15 pm.
Afternoon stars
Later in the day, Australian favorite Alex de Minaur hit the court at 3.15 pm, followed by Venus Williams at 3.30 pm, whose presence drew a wave of applause from fans. Rising star Joao Fonseca practiced at 4.00 pm, Ben Shelton at 4.15 pm, and Emerson Jones closed the schedule at 4.30 pm.
Fans enjoy the spectacle
The practice sessions gave fans a rare opportunity to see their favorite players in a more relaxed setting, offering glimpses of preparation, strategy, and personality ahead of the high-stakes matches to come. The packed schedule reflected the depth of talent at the Australian Open and the excitement building in Melbourne.
ATP Australian Open - Jannik Sinner's projected path
Jannik Sinner in 2025
Now ranked no.2, Jannik played his last match on the 16th of November 2025 when he overcame world no.1 Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4) 7-5 in the final in the Nitto ATP Finals to win his 25th career title.
During this season Sinner achieved a composed 58-6 match record.
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) after Vienna. The main draw will start on the 20th of October.
ATP Australian Open - Carlos Alcaraz's projected path
Carlos Alcaraz in 2025
Now ranked no.1, Carlos played his last encounter on the 16th of November 2025 when he lost to world no.2 Jannik Sinner 7-6(4) 7-5 in the final in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This season Carlos owns an overall 71-9 win-loss record.
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). The main draw will start on the 27th of October.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz clashed against each other 17 times. Their actual head to head record is 11-6 for Alcaraz.
