Top seeds dominated day 4 of the Australian Open in Melbourne, advancing to the third round with few surprises. Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff secured straight-set victories, while Alex de Minaur and Alexander Zverev overcame tougher challenges. Emma Raducanu's early exit highlighted a mixed day for some players.
Day 4 of the Australian Open on January 21, 2026, saw the tournament gain momentum as seeded players largely controlled their second-round matches in Melbourne. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka started strongly, defeating qualifier Zhuoxuan Bai 6-3, 6-1. "I’m feeling confident with my game," Sabalenka said. "I’m serving well and finding my shots early, which is important here."
On the men's side, Carlos Alcaraz edged Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 after a tight first set. "I stayed calm when it was close," Alcaraz noted. "Once I broke through in the first set, I felt more comfortable." Coco Gauff was equally dominant, beating Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2. "I think I did a good job staying aggressive but not rushing," Gauff said. "That was the key today."
Alexander Zverev dropped a set but regrouped to defeat Alexandre Muller 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, relying on his serve to steady after momentum shifts. Home favorite Alex de Minaur recovered from a first-set loss and a rain delay to beat Hamad Medjedovic 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. "I knew I had to be patient," de Minaur said. "Even after losing the first set, I felt like I was playing the right way."
Teenager Mirra Andreeva impressed with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Maria Sakkari, striking cleanly from both wings. However, Emma Raducanu exited 7-6(7-3), 6-2 to Anastasia Potapova, showing inconsistency with 19 forehand errors. Raducanu, seeded 28th, cited a desire to adjust her style post-injury. No upsets marred the men's draw, with all 13 seeds advancing. The day underscored the blend of discipline and execution needed at Melbourne Park.