Alcaraz to fight the crowd and rank no. 79 Walton on centre court
At 22, Alcaraz could replace Don Budge as the youngest man to achieve the career Grand Slam with victory at the Australian Open. The Spaniard has left no one in any doubt what his main goal is for the 2026 season, saying in November he would rather win a first Melbourne Park crown than retain his French and U.S. Open titles.
His quest to make history will begin with a first-round tie against Australian Walton.
The pair have crossed paths once before, with Alcaraz beating the Australian 6-4 7-6(4) during his title-winning run at the Queen's Club Championships last year.
Hard court queen Sabalenka kicks off first night session
Sabalenka will be bidding to continue her incredible record in hard court Grand Slam tournaments when she begins her campaign against Frenchwoman Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
The Belarusian world number one has reached the final of the last six majors she has played on the surface, winning four of those.
She enters the competition in fine form after retaining her Brisbane International title this month without losing a set, and should have little trouble when she takes on the 118th-ranked Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
Williams to conclude John Cain Arena program
Venus Williams, a two-times Australian Open singles finalist, returns to the tournament for the first time since 2021 after receiving a wildcard.
The 45-year-old faces Olga Danilovic in the first round, where she is set to become the oldest woman to feature in the Australian Open main draw by surpassing Japan's Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she bowed out in the first round in 2015.
Williams has endured a poor start to the season, losing to Magda Linette in the first round in Auckland and to Tatjana Maria in her opening match at the Hobart International.
Despite her defeats, she said she was happy with her level.
"I can't expect perfection right now, but I know I'm playing good tennis. Winning and losing doesn't know any age. Once you walk on court, you're there to compete," Williams said before her defeat in Hobart.
Who is playing on the big three arenas on Sunday?
ROD LAVER ARENA: Day session commences at 11:30am AEDT (01:30am GMT)
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Belarus) v 7-Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
3-Alexander Zverev (Germany) v Gabriel Diallo (Canada)
Night session - commences at 7:00pm AEDT (08:00am GMT)
1-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) v Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (France)
1-Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) v Adam Walton (Australia)
MARGARET COURT ARENA: Day session commences at 11:30am AEDT (01:30am GMT)
Maria Sakkari (Greece) v Leolia Jeanjean (France)
18-Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina) v Zhang Zhizhen (China)
Night session - commences at 7:00pm AEDT (08:00am GMT)
10-Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) v Jenson Brooksby (USA)
Mananchaya Sawangkaew (Thailand) v 28-Emma Raducanu (Britain)
JOHN CAIN ARENA: Day session commences at 11:00am AEDT (01:00am GMT)
Arthur Fery (Britain) v 20-Flavio Cobolli (Italy)
12-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) v Cristina Bucsa (Spain)
Night session - commences at 5:00pm AEDT (06:00am GMT)
29-Frances Tiafoe (U.S.) v Jason Kubler (Australia)
Olga Danilovic (Serbia) v Venus Williams (USA)