Greetings from beneath two feet of snow!

As the east coast of the US digs out from the big storm, things are getting very... very hot Down Under.

Let's get you caught up on all the results, ramblings, and rigamaroll from Melbourne and beyond!

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🚨 Defending Champ Down Jessica Pegula (6) def. Madison Keys (9), 6-3, 6-4, to end Keys' title defense. Keys struck 26 winners against 28 unforced errors. Pegula came out cleaner with just 13. Insult to injury? Keys now has to eat that cheddar cheese apple pie.

👀 Top Seed Domination! For the first time in the Open Era, every single one of the top 6 seeds in the men's and women's draw make it to the quarterfinals. The women haven't done it since 1991. For both draws to do it simultaneously? Unprecedented.

☀️ Hot, Hot Heat Melbourne faces an another day of extreme heat, with temperatures possibly topping out at a staggering 113°F/45°C. As a result, start times have been shifted to reduce heat exposure for players, staff, and fans.

🎾 Shelton's Net Positive Ben Shelton rallied from a set down to defeat Casper Ruud, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, winning 97% of net points (29/30) and dropping just three points on serve in the 4th set.

🎾 Rybakina is Rollin'! Elena Rybakina hasn't dropped a set in Melbourne. The 2022 Wimbledon champion is 8-0 in sets and next faces Iga Swiatek, who she took down in their only previous Melbourne meeting (2023, 6-4, 6-4).

👀 Musetti Maxes Out Lorenzo Musetti completes the slam QF set, defeating Taylor Fritz, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. The Italian joins Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as the only men born after 2000 to reach the quarterfinals at all four slams.

🚨 WHOOP, There it Aint'! A ban on WHOOP wearables sparks controversy as both Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were asked to remove their ITF-approved fitness trackers before matches. WHOOP founder Will Ahmed called it "ridiculous."

👀 Aussie, Aussie... Aussie? Alex de Minaur is looking to end a 21-year drought for Aussie men in the AO semifinals. The last Aussie man to win the title? Mark Edmondson in 1976.

🌟 Right at Home Alex Eala makes a winning start as the #2 seed at the WTA 125 in Manila. Once again drawing gigantic crowds of enthusiastic fans, Eala defeats Alina Charaeva, 6-1, 6-2.

⛳ Ferrero's Next Pupil? A Golfer? Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former world #1 who guided Carlos Alcaraz to six slam titles, has joined golfer Angel Ayora's team to work on "the mental side of performance."

"I wanted to be back here and give myself another shot. I wanted to improve on some things I didn't do last year and leave it all out on the court. I have a lot more that I want to do here and I have a lot more to prove. So I hope you guys come back in two days' time, because I'll be ready to go." - Ben Shelton on his quarterfinal rematch with Jannik Sinner ¹

"I got tired of the narrative that these big hitters can take the racquet out of my hands. Over the years I have kept on improving. I have kept on getting more and more out of myself." - Alex de Minaur on changing the narrative about his game ²

"I didn't want to answer a question that was obviously intended for just, like, a headline and clickbait. That was my right. It had nothing to do with my political views or anything like that." - Amanda Anisimova on declining to answer a question about the current political climate in the United States. ³

"The last time we told Jess that she was going to do well, she didn't do well, so she told us that we're all banned from saying anything." - Madison Keys on Jessica Pegula's chances in the tournament ⁴

"When I went to do my pre-match stuff, like moving around and stuff before the match, I told my physio, 'My knee just doesn't feel great.'" - Taylor Fritz on his knee injury ⁷

"I wouldn't say head-to-head matters. Every match is a different story and like on every match she's been a tough opponent." - Iga Swiatek on her upcoming quarterfinal against Elena Rybakina ³

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Day Session

◆ Aryna Sabalenka (#1) vs. Iva Jovic (#29)

◆ Alexander Zverev (#3) vs. Learner Tien (#25)

Night Session

◆ Coco Gauff (#3) vs. Elina Svitolina (#12)

◆ Carlos Alcaraz (#1) vs. Alex de Minaur (#6)

Philippine Women's Open (WTA 125)

◆ Tatjana Maria (#1) vs. Leolia Jeanjean

◆ Donna Vekic (#4) vs. Kyoka Okamura

◆ Lulu Sun (6) vs. Zhu Lin

◆ Solana Sierra (3) vs. Joanna Garland

¹ Ubha, Ravi. "Shelton Rallies Against Ruud to Cement Sinner Rematch." Australian Open, 26 January 2026. link

² Smith, Sophie. "AO 2026 Day 10 Preview: De Minaur Primed for Alcaraz Battle." Australian Open, 26 January 2026. link

³ Kane, David. "Amanda Anisimova Attempts to Clarify Online Controversies in Australian Open Press Conference." Tennis.com, 26 January 2026. link

⁴ Tan, Gill. "'We'll Be Cheering Her On': Keys' Words for Victorious Pegula." Australian Open, 26 January 2026. link

⁵ Briscomb, Bede. "Musetti Flies By Fritz to Complete Major Quarterfinal Set." Australian Open, 26 January 2026. link

Great tennis journalism is worth your time... and money! So, each week, I highlight a few writers, podcasts, vlogs, and articles you should seek out.

The Ground Pass Podcast has been very busy in the off season. Mostly because they've been chronicling... the Off Season.

Anastasia and Nick go behind the scenes with a handful of players as the practice in Florida ahead of the 2026 season. Revealing, intimate, and insightful, the series brings you closer to players like Colton Smith, Camila Osorio, and this week's Australian Open breakout Eliot Spizzirri and includes narration & interviews by none other than Chris Eubanks!

Check out Ground Pass on YouTube, and watch the first episode of Off Season.