Australian Open 2026 concluded with a bang, with the final three days of the tournament featuring unforgettable men’s semifinals, a compelling women’s final, and a men’s final played with history on the line.
But there were several other matches throughout the fortnight which captured attention, contests you can enjoy again – or catch them for the first time if you missed them – when they’re broadcast on Tennis+ from 11-20 March.
Expanding on an article we originally published following AO 2026, we re-cap these 10 classics, in chronological order.
Women’s singles 2R
Maddison Inglis d Laura Siegemund
6-4 6-7(3) 7-6[10-7]
Entertaining a thrilled crowd at ANZ Arena, the Australian and German produced 89 combined winners in this three-hour, 20-minute nailbiter, in which Inglis – a 168th-ranked qualifier – was a clear underdog against the crafty world No.48.
“I was really proud how I managed myself in the tiebreak, I wanted it so bad,” said Inglis, who served for the match in the second set.
"I knew she wasn't going to give it to me, she's such a great competitor. I had to work for it.”
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
12 March 2026 8:00pm AEDT
14 March 2026 8:00pm GMT
Men’s singles 2R:
Stan Wawrinka d Arthur Gea
4-6 6-3 3-6 7-5 7-6[10-3]
In his final campaign at Melbourne Park, the AO 2014 champion became the first player aged 40 or over to reach the third round at a major since Ken Rosewall at Australian Open 1978.
He did so by winning this marathon four-hour and 33-minute battle against 21-year-old French qualifier Arthur Gea.
In his 20th AO, wildcard Wawrinka struck 63 winners en route to victory in his 49th five-set match at a major.
“It’s my last Australian Open so I’m trying to last as long as possible,” he said after a battle that electrified Kia Arena.
“I’m always going to fight, I’m always going to leave everything on the court, always trying my best, trying to push myself.”
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
17 March 2026 8:00pm AEDT
11 March 2026 8:00pm GMT
Women’s singles 3R:
Victoria Mboko d Clara Tauson
7-6(5) 5-7 6-3
Fresh from reaching the Adelaide International final, Mboko continued that form through the early rounds at AO 2026, confirming to onlookers why she is one of the game’s most exciting ascendant stars.
The 19-year-old prevailed in a pulsating two-hour, 20-minute showdown with the big-hitting Tauson, who struck 33 winners and managed to keep her unforced error tally lower than the Canadian.
Yet it was Mboko’s confidence and composure on the biggest points which proved telling, helping her advance to the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.
It was a result which helped her on her journey to the top 10, which she reached in the weeks after AO 2026.
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
18 March 2026 8:00pm AEDT
12 March 2026 8:00pm GMT
Women’s singles 3R:
Yulia Putintseva d Zeynep Sonmez
6-3 6-7(3) 6-3
Sonmez’ journey from the qualifying rounds to the last 32 of the main draw energised Melbourne’s sizeable Turkish community, who turned out in force to support their star in this atmospheric third-round clash at Kia Arena.
Putintseva, an experienced former top-20 player, initially began the stronger of the two, building a 6-3 3-1 lead before Sonmez staged a comeback which sent the packed crowd into raptures.
The duo played out several thrilling points, but in the end it was the 31-year-old Kazakhstani who prevailed, ending the rising star’s spirited run and advancing to the second week at Melbourne Park for the first time – a milestone she capped with a memorable celebration.
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
15 March 2026 5:00pm AEDT
20 March 2026 8:00pm GMT
Men’s singles 3R:
Lorenzo Musetti d Tomas Machac
5-7 6-4 6-2 5-7 6-2
A recent top-five debutant after opening 2026 with a final in Hong Kong, Musetti entered this contest brimming with confidence. So too did his opponent; Machac had arrived at this point after back-to-back wins over Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Both notable for their shotmaking prowess, this match-up did not disappoint. Machac was seeking a place in the AO fourth round for the first time, as was Musetti, who was also aiming to continue his ascent on hard courts after reaching the US Open quarterfinals four months earlier.
The two men combined for more than 100 winners in the four-and-a-half hour contest, yet it was Musetti pulling away in the final set, unfurling 11 winners to two to notch his best AO result en route to a second straight Slam quarterfinal.
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
14 March 2026 8:00pm AEDT
18 March 2026 8:00pm GMT
Women’s singles 4R:
Coco Gauff d Karolina Muchova
6-1 3-6 6-3
The American 21-year-old emerged as victor in this two-hour battle at Margaret Court Arena, in part by limiting her unforced errors to 26 compared to her rival’s 38.
“Every time I play Karolina, it feels tough out there on the court,” said Gauff, who extended her head-to-head record over the Czech star to 5-0. “She's a talented player. Really just came down to couple points in the third set that went my way.”
With victory, she became the youngest woman to reach three consecutive AO singles quarterfinals since Maria Sharapova, who made four straight between 2005 and 2008.
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
11 March 2026 8:00pm AEDST
17 March 2026 8:00pm GMT
Men’s singles SF:
Carlos Alcaraz d Alexander Zverev
6-4 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-7(4) 7-5
We’ll forever remember this titanic encounter that stretched five hours and 27 minutes, setting a record for the longest-ever semifinal at Melbourne Park.
The top seed drew from his deep well of self-belief after struggling physically near the conclusion of the third set, just two games from victory.
The 22-year-old was barely able to move for a period of the match, suffering a deceleration on his serve speeds and leg drive. Though Zverev did his best to stage his fourth career comeback from a two-sets-to-love deficit, his tenacious rival was prepared for the fight.
Alcaraz, feeding off the energy of the 15,000-strong crowd at Rod Laver Arena, won four games in a row from 3-5 in the fifth to become the youngest man in the Open Era to reach the final of all four majors.
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
20 March 2026 8:00pm AEDT
16 March 2026 8:00pm GMT
Men’s singles SF:
Novak Djokovic d Jannik Sinner
3-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-4
In this epic that finished at 1:32 am, Djokovic turned back the clock against the 24-year-old world No.2, digging deep to save a tremendous 16 of 18 break points en route to his first victory over his Italian rival in six matches.
Sinner, the two-time defending champion, struck 26 aces among 72 winners to dwarf Djokovic’s tally of 46 winners, but couldn’t hit through the 24-time Grand Slam champion when it mattered most.
“It doesn’t get better than this,” said the 10-time AO champion after the four-hour, nine-minute battle, his first triumph in a major semifinal since 2024 Wimbledon.
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
13 March 2026 8:15pm AEDT
15 March 2026 8:00pm GMT
Women’s final:
Elena Rybakina d Aryna Sabalenka
6-4 4-6 6-4
Fittingly, in the best women’s match of the tournament, the two powerful ball-strikers finished with a combined 63 winners and, underscoring just how tight the contest was, each won 92 points.
Rybakina, avenging a three-set loss to Sabalenka in the AO 2023 women’s singles final, recovered from a 0-3 deficit in the third set to secure her first AO crown and second Grand Slam title.
RELATED: Rybakina, Sabalenka join iconic names with AO final rematch
By sealing victory with an ace, the 26-year-old became the first Kazakhstani AO titlist and handed Sabalenka, the world No.1, her second straight AO final defeat.
“I’m really proud,” said Rybakina, who climbed to world No.3 as a result of her triumph.
ELENA RYBAKINA IS AN AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION 🏆
The No.5 seed defeats Aryna Sabalenka in an enthralling three-set encounter in Melbourne 👏 @wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/iWAAHFZFHR— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2026
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
16 March 2026 8:00pm AEDT
19 March 2026 8:00pm GMT
Men’s final:
Carlos Alcaraz d Novak Djokovic
2-6 6-2 6-3 7-5
In a clash between generational talents, the 22-year-old world No.1 conquered his 38-year-old rival to earn a maiden AO crown, becoming the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam and the youngest player to capture seven major titles.
“It is a dream come true for me,” said Alcaraz, who crucially converted five of 16 break points in the three hour-long final, and collapsed to the ground as he celebrated championship point, covering his face with his palms.
“Nobody knows how hard I’ve been working to get this trophy, I just chased this moment so much."
Alcaraz later wrote on the TV camera lens: “Job finished. 4/4 Complete.”
Tennis+ broadcast schedule:
19 March 2026 8:00pm AEDST
13 March 2026 8:00pm GMT