Alcaraz asserts his dominance at the 2026 Australian Open

The world’s top-ranked player is highly motivated to win the Australian Open this year and finish his Career Grand Slam by the age of 22.

Carlos Alcaraz continues to nurture his hopes of completing his collection of Grand Slam titles after defeating German player Yannick Hanfmann to secure a place in the third round of the 2026 Australian Open. The 22-year-old star overcame a tough start to win 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena on the afternoon of January 21, Vietnam time.

Following a relatively straightforward opening match against local player Adam Walton, Alcaraz faced a greater challenge against Hanfmann, who possesses powerful serves and a physically demanding style. Under the harsh Australian summer sun, the two contested a tense opening set lasting 78 minutes, where endurance and resilience proved crucial.

Alcaraz did not start the match smoothly. He fell behind 1-3 early and had to push hard to bring the set back to parity. Although he created several break point opportunities, the Spanish player struggled to counter Hanfmann’s strong serves. The tightly contested set led to a tie-break, where Carlitos showed composure at the right moment to win 7-4, concluding a hard-fought first set.

In the second set, Alcaraz quickly regained his usual rhythm. He used his speed, precise return of serve, and aggressive net play to make the difference. The world number one controlled the match better, steadily applying pressure and pulling ahead to double his advantage.

The third set revealed clear signs of Hanfmann’s fatigue. The German player received medical treatment during the break but it was not enough to turn the tide. Conversely, Alcaraz grew more comfortable on court, capitalizing fully on his opponent’s decline by securing two consecutive breaks before closing out the match on his serve.

With this victory, Alcaraz advances to the third round where he will face Corentin Moutet, who defeated young talent Michael Zheng. The journey at Melbourne Park is still long, but the performance against Hanfmann indicates the Spanish player is gradually reaching his best form to continue chasing the missing Grand Slam title in his career.