Jannik Sinner began his bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title with a straightforward victory on Tuesday night, as opponent Hugo Gaston retired due to an abdominal injury. The Italian world No. 2 dominated the match, leading 6-2, 6-1 when the Frenchman called it quits in Rod Laver Arena. Sinner expressed sympathy for Gaston while praising his own preparation.
Jannik Sinner's first-round match at the Australian Open 2026 unfolded smoothly for the two-time defending champion until an unfortunate turn. The 24-year-old Italian, returning to competition after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP Finals over two months prior, took control early against France's Hugo Gaston. In the opening set, Sinner faced pressure in his first service game, slipping to 0/40, but he responded with three aces in the next four points to hold serve. He broke Gaston's serve in the sixth game with a sublime drop shot that left the Frenchman sprawling, though Gaston appeared uninjured at the time.
Sinner extended his dominance into the second set, racing to a 6-1 lead in just over an hour while racking up 19 winners. Gaston, who had called for the doctor after the first set and taken tablets, struggled with his serving pace. The match, lasting 68 minutes, ended abruptly when Gaston retired due to an abdominal injury, crossing the net to shake Sinner's hand and apologize amid visible emotion. Sinner consoled his sobbing opponent before advancing.
"I saw that he was not serving with a very high pace, especially in the second set, but it’s not a way you want to win the match," Sinner said. "He’s such a talented player, so I knew I had to play at a very high level... I’m very happy to be back here."
Now 3-0 in their head-to-head, Sinner aims to join Novak Djokovic as the only man in the Open Era with three straight Australian Open titles. He credited his offseason work, including adjustments to his serve and drop shots, for his sharp performance. "I've put in many, many long days... the most important part is to go on court and to enjoy," he added.
In the second round, Sinner will face Australian wild card James Duckworth, who outlasted lucky loser Dino Prizmic in five sets. Meanwhile, No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz also progressed, defeating Valentin Royer 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 in a three-hour battle.
