Carlos Alcaraz Advances at Australian Open After Golfing with Roger Federer
World number one Carlos Alcaraz has smoothly progressed to the third round of the Australian Open, following a straight-sets victory over Yannick Hanfmann. The Spanish tennis sensation secured a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 win in Melbourne, showcasing his formidable form early in the 2026 season.
Alcaraz Praises Federer's Golf Swing
In a delightful revelation, Alcaraz shared that his preparations included a round of golf with the legendary Roger Federer. "It's as beautiful as his tennis," Alcaraz remarked about Federer's golf swing. He added, "I'm not surprised. It's unbelievable. Everything he does, he does in style, really beautiful. On the golf course, it's a really beautiful swing."
The 22-year-old has become an avid golfer in recent years, often using the sport to relax between matches. He humorously noted Federer's quick proficiency, stating, "I think he has been playing for two years now and his level is really good. I've been playing five and he's already beating me. It hurts."
Building Momentum in Melbourne
On the court, Alcaraz demonstrated his growing confidence, navigating a tight first-set tie-break before dominating the remainder of the match. This victory marks his second win of the season, as he aims to become the youngest male player to achieve a career Grand Slam. Next, he will face the 32nd seed, Corentin Moutet, in a highly anticipated third-round clash.
Cameron Norrie Holds Nerve in Rain-Delayed Match
In other news, Britain's Cameron Norrie remains the sole British contender in Melbourne after a hard-fought victory over American Emilio Nava. The 26th seed triumphed with a 6-1, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5) scoreline, displaying resilience in a match interrupted by heavy rain.
Norrie was leading 4-3 in the fourth-set tie-break when play was suspended. After an hour's delay, he returned to seal the win. "I was just laughing to myself," Norrie said. "Actually felt so relaxed when I came out afterwards. It was quite tough for the fans. There was a lot of atmosphere building and it was completely packed. It felt like everyone was on top of the court yelling. It was a shame that the match couldn't have finished there with all the atmosphere building. But I managed to come back, serve well, and tough out one rally. That was enough."
Norrie Prepares for Zverev Challenge
Norrie now faces a daunting third-round encounter against third seed Alexander Zverev, last year's finalist. Expressing excitement, Norrie acknowledged the challenge, saying, "So excited. He's one of the most consistent players on the tour. I think he loves playing me. Every time we play we have such high-level matches. He always beats me. The last maybe four or five times. We always have close sets, close matches. I played him in the fourth round here, lost 7-6 in the fifth before. But he's one of the best competitors out there. I'm excited. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling my game good."
Women's Draw Updates
In the women's singles, Coco Gauff continued her impressive run with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Olga Danilovic to reach the third round. Meanwhile, world number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a brief first-set challenge from Chinese opponent Bai Zhuoxuan, securing a 6-3, 6-1 victory to advance.
