Watching all 64 first-round women’s singles matches at Australian Open 2026 is a huge feat, but if you have enough screens, don’t let us stop you …
MORE: AO 2026 women's singles draw
If not, here are five compelling battles we can’t wait to see unfold – and that you shouldn’t miss, too.
Donna Vekic v Mirra Andreeva [8]
Popular Croatian Donna Vekic was all smiles at the AO 1 Point Slam Driven by Kia, but the 29-year-old will be entirely business against Mirra Andreeva.
Vekic, a former world No.17, is aiming to avenge a three-set loss dealt by her charismatic opponent in their only prior battle, back in 2024. But Melbourne Park seems to agree with the 18-year-old Andreeva, who made a seamless transition from junior girls’ finalist at AO 2023 to back-to-back women’s singles fourth-round runs at AO 2024 and 2025.
As the eighth seed, she’ll aim to blast past anyone standing in the way of her projected place in this year’s quarterfinals.
Barbora Krejcikova v Diana Shnaider [23]
In an enthralling first-time meeting, Czech two-time major champion Barbora Krejcikova has her sights set on toppling her seeded foe, Diana Shnaider.
Key for Krejcikova, a two-time AO quarterfinalist, is whether she has been able to shake an apparent knee injury that hindered her at this week’s Hobart International.
Shnaider, defending points from a trip to the third round of AO 2025, will be battle ready. The 21-year-old is still in contention at the Adelaide International after notching victories over Leylah Fernandez, Katerina Siniakova and sixth seed Emma Navarro.
Tereza Valentova v Maya Joint [30]
In another first-time encounter, 18-year-old Tereza Valentova takes on 19-year-old Maya Joint at her home slam, one where Joint is seeded at a major for the first time.
The pair have had similar trajectories, as Czechia’s Valentova makes her AO women’s singles debut ranked world No.60 after a breakthrough 2025 season in which she qualified at Roland Garros and the US Open, and upset Alexandra Eala, Elise Mertens, Olga Danilovic and Jacqueline Cristian to reach the final of the Japan Open as a qualifier.
Joint, who received a wildcard to AO 2025, has had an even more meteoric rise thanks to a title in Eastbourne where she earned victories over three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
The Australian also notched top 20 wins over Shnaider, Vekic and Clara Tauson.
Katie Boulter v Belinda Bencic [10]
Belinda Bencic has arrived in Melbourne raring to go after going unbeaten at United Cup, where she earned upsets over Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini.
Beyond those wins providing a huge confidence boost, they also propelled the Swiss star back into the top 10.
“It's been a huge goal … to come back and prove this to myself, that it's possible,” said the 28-year-old.
While her journey to the fourth round of AO 2025 after returning from childbirth surpassed expectations, 12 months on, Bencic is a favourite to repeat or better that feat. She holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Katie Boulter, the Brit who is hungry to make an impact at the home slam of fiancé Alex de Minaur.
Victoria Mboko [17] v Emerson Jones (WC)
Canada’s top female player Victoria Mboko makes her AO debut against homegrown sensation Emerson Jones in another first-ever battle between teenage prodigies.
At 19, Mboko announced herself to the tennis world in August by defeating four major champions – Sofia Kenin, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka – en route to the Canadian Open title in Montreal, helped in part by support from a vocal home crowd.
But at Melbourne Park, expect fans to get behind 17-year-old Jones, as the Queenslander searches for a maiden women’s singles AO victory.
Jones is armed with new-found confidence after earning her second top 50 win by upsetting German Tatjana Maria in straight sets at the Brisbane International.