January 20, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; China’s Shuai Zhang plays against Australia’s Taylah Preston in the first round of the Australian Open women’s singles at Melbourne Park Kia Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Image Second-seeded Emma Navarro (USA), third-seeded Ann Li (USA) and seventh-seeded Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Spain) were denied a place in the quarterfinals after losing at the Akron in Mérida (Mexico) Open on Thursday.
World No. 20 Navarro, the defending champion of this tournament, lost to China’s Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets, and Li lost to Zeynep Sonmes (Turkey) 6-3, 7-6(7), 6-4. Maneiro lost to Magdalena Freich (Poland) 6-0, 6-3.
Navarro got off to a strong start by breaking Zhang’s second service game and taking a 4-1 lead in the first set, but Zhang fought back and took the next five games to win the set. In the second set, Navarro looked poised to bounce back, building a 3-1 lead, but Zhang won five of the next six games to mount a comeback.
In her tournament debut, No. 1 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy ousted lucky loser Priscilla Hon of Australia 6-0, 6-2. Paolini finished the match with 13 winners and 14 unforced errors, winning 90% (9 of 10) of her second serve points while converting 6 of 11 break points.
ATX open
Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, who was not seeded, advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating second seed Iva Jovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Austin, Texas.
Jovic, ranked 18th in the world, won the opening set by beating Tomjanovic in the 10th game, then defeated the American team in the 5th game before holding serve to force a decisive third set. Jovic entered the match with his right leg tied, and after losing the second set and requesting a medical timeout, he entered with his left leg tied.
Tomljanovic took a 2-0 lead in the final set, and after Jovic recovered to tie the set at 4-all, the Australian secured a crucial break in the ninth game before serving into the match in the 10th game.
The United States’ Peyton Stearns (4th seed) and Ashlyn Krueger advanced to the quarterfinals, and Australia’s Kimberly Birrell also advanced.
–Field level media
