Carlos Alcaraz beats Hanfmann to move closer to third round at Australian Open 2026
The 22-year-old Spaniard defeated his German opponent in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2. Alcaraz improved his game with each set and booked his place in the third round.
January 21, 2026: Carlos Alcaraz produced a strong performance at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday as he moved closer to a third-round spot at the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann.
The World No. 1 from Murcia, Spain, received a warm welcome from the crowd as he stepped onto the court wearing an all-green outfit. He quickly lived up to the expectations. From the first serve, Alcaraz showed his usual mix of speed, accuracy, and smart play, forcing Hanfmann into mistakes and keeping constant pressure on him.
The first set was closely fought and lasted 78 minutes before Alcaraz won it in a tough tie-break. Hanfmann started well and showed moments of quality, hitting powerful groundstrokes that challenged the Spaniard. However, Alcaraz stayed calm throughout, answering with timely backhands and clever play at the net.
Alcaraz finds his rhythm in the second set
By the second set, Carlos Alcaraz had fully settled into his game. A single, well-timed break of serve made the difference as he moved ahead and closed the set 6-2. Yannick Hanfmann continued to fight for every point, but tiredness and a rib issue slowed him down. Alcaraz, meanwhile, impressed the crowd with sharp volleys and powerful serves that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
78 minutes 😱
— Mafia Tennis New 🎾🎾 (@MafiaTNews) January 21, 2026
Carlos Alcaraz prevails 7-6 in an epic opening set vs Hanfmann!@AustralianOpen #AO26
pic.twitter.com/nQ4ZIN4kZn
Light moments and Spanish success in Melbourne
The match also had a few light moments. At one stage, a fan shouted “Carlos Nadal,” which made the young Spaniard smile as he continues to build his own name on the tennis tour. With this win, Alcaraz moved a step closer to the third round, giving the Melbourne Park crowd an exciting show of skill, planning, and determination.
Elsewhere, fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich also put in a strong performance. He won the first two sets against Reilly Opelka and moved close to reaching the third round.
Alcaraz will now look ahead to his next match, full of confidence after this energetic win and backed by the strong support at Rod Laver Arena.
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