Australian Open 2026 LIVE updates: Inglis’ great Swiatek test; All-Aussie showdown in doubles; Sinner, Keys chase title defences

There is a bit of a clash of cultures going on at Flinders Street station this morning.

The all-white anti-immigration protesters getting off the trams, draped in Australian flags, are pushing past a multicultural mix of fans heading towards Melbourne Park for the tennis.

The Australian Open people I’ve spoken to have expressed a little bemusement at the crowd across the road.

So far, the crowd numbers about 50 to 100 people waving Australian flags.

Some are waving the Australian red ensign and the Eureka flag, and we’ve just had our first “Aussie Aussie Aussie” chant. On reflection, that’s something that unites the two groups.

About 20 police officers are keeping an eye on Swanson Street, where a smaller group of protesters is waiting for the rally to start at the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Follow the March for Australia and Invasion Day rallies live via our dedicated blog.

Think you know a lot about the tennis? See how you score below.

Former tennis star Casey Dellacqua says Maddison Inglis is living on “cloud nine at the moment”.

Inglis, progressed to the fourth round after Naomi Osaka pulled out and now faces world No.2 Iga Swiatek.

Dellacqua, a commentator for Nine, owner of this masthead, said Inglis had a “great sense of court awareness” and great variety.

“I think if Maddy can bring that grit, determination, and also that variety on the court and moving Iga in out of the court … anything can always happen.”

Dellacqua said Alex de Minaur – who faces world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday – was in fine form and had noticed a switch in the Australian.

Watch more below.

As we get ready for the first women’s fourth-round match on the schedule today, use our interactive to predict the winner of the all-American clash between Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys on Rod Laver Arena from 11.30am.

It’s the Australian Open 2026, and every day, the records keep tumbling. And not always on the court.

While on the court Novak Djokovic has equalled Roger Federer’s record of 21 Open appearances, off it, Tennis Australia (TA), with chief executive Craig Tiley leading the charge, has transformed an event that used to be the poor cousin in the four grand slams into an innovative juggernaut.

It is a far cry from when players thought so lowly of the Australian Open that they would not even bother coming.

Tennis legend Andre Agassi is a four-time champion here, but was 24 years old before he chose to compete at Melbourne Park (previously Flinders Park), where the tournament was shifted to in 1988 from Kooyong.

Tiley, who became the Open’s tournament director in 2006, figured out long ago that the tennis alone would drag only so many people in, and so has leaned increasingly into the off-court offering.

This year, TA has stepped up three key trends driving the future of the event.

You can read more here.

As CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour once put it, “I’ve been in the ring for a long time with many of these people”.

“These people” was a reference to the many world leaders the lauded foreign correspondent has encountered over the years, including Donald Trump, Yasser Arafat and Nicolas Maduro – experiences she will reflect on this week at a very different forum: the Australian Open.

Amanpour, 68, is in Melbourne to headline The AO Inspirational Series, traditionally held ahead of the women’s semi-final matches.

While perhaps best known for her incisive interview style, what is less known about the legendary journalist, who rose to prominence during the Bosnain war ,in the 1990s is her obsession with tennis.

To date, the AO was the only tennis grand slam she had not attended.

Amanpour said she was thrilled to take part in the Inspirational Series, where she will be on stage in conversation with former Nine journalist Liz Hayes.

“Actually, I’m the one who will be inspired, by my first-ever visit to Australia, and by completing my own grand slam by finally attending the Australian Open. I look forward to this unique experience,” she said.

We spotted Amanpour enjoying the tennis last night, in the company of Aussie tennis great and former politician, John Alexander.

Other famous faces in the crowd included Sex and the City actor Evan Handler, Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, singer Tina Arena and model Duckie Thot, to name a few.

To celebrate Australia Day, the national anthem and a parade of Aussie flags, including on the LED walls in Rod Laver Arena, will feature in on-court ceremonies at Melbourne Park today.

The Australian of the Year, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, has been invited to attend the grand slam.

Last year’s award recipient, legendary AFL coach and MND fighter Neale Daniher, received a standing ovation from the packed stadium.

A festival of Aussie music will also feature on stages across Melbourne Park.

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