World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start to his 2026 Australian Open campaign on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night, defeating Australia’s Adam Walton in the first round of the Happy Slam, 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
It was actually a winning start to his 2026 season, period—he didn’t play any official lead-up tournaments over the last few weeks.
But the Spaniard came out strong on Sunday, cruising through the first set in 34 minutes, bouncing back from 3-1 down to take the second set on a tie-break, then rolling through the third in 32 minutes to close it out.
And with that victory, Alcaraz kept a very impressive stat going—he’s now 20-0 in his career in first-round matches at the Grand Slams.
Alcaraz is just the second man this century to win their first 20 or more first-round matches in a row at Grand Slams, after Rafael Nadal, who won his first 34 before finally losing one to Steve Darcis at Wimbledon in 2013.
ALCARAZ IN FIRST-ROUND MATCHES AT GRAND SLAMS: 20-0
d. Van de Zandschulp in ’21 Australian Open 1st Rd, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
d. Zapata Miralles in ’21 Roland Garros 1st Rd, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6
d. Uchiyama in ’21 Wimbledon 1st Rd, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
d. Norrie in ’21 US Open 1st Rd, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3
d. Tabilo in ’22 Australian Open 1st Rd, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
d. Londero in ’22 Roland Garros 1st Rd, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0
d. Struff in ’22 Wimbledon 1st Rd, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
d. Baez in ’22 US Open 1st Rd, 7-5, 7-5, 2-0 ret. (leg)
d. Cobolli in ’23 Roland Garros 1st Rd, 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
d. Chardy in ’23 Wimbledon 1st Rd, 6-0, 6-2, 7-5
d. Koepfer in ’23 US Open 1st Rd, 6-2, 3-2 ret. (ankle)
d. Gasquet in ’24 Australian Open 1st Rd, 7-6, 6-1, 6-2
d. Wolf in ’24 Roland Garros 1st Rd, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1
d. Lajal in ’24 Wimbledon 1st Rd, 7-6, 7-5, 6-2
d. Tu in ’24 US Open 1st Rd, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
d. Shevchenko in ’25 Australian Open 1st Rd, 6-1, 7-5, 6-1
d. Zeppieri in ’25 Roland Garros 1st Rd, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
d. Fognini in ’25 Wimbledon 1st Rd, 7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
d. Opelka in ’25 US Open 1st Rd, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4
d. Walton in ’26 Australian Open 1st Rd, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2