The humidity is starting to stick in Melbourne and Adelaide. Honestly, if you aren't paying attention to the qualifying rounds and the lead-up tournaments right now, you’re missing the actual drama. Everyone waits for the main draw of the Australian Open, but the real stories are happening on the back courts today, January 15, 2026.
It’s chaotic.
The Big Shocker in Adelaide
If you were looking for safe bets, you probably lost money today. Victoria Mboko—the 19-year-old Canadian who basically came out of nowhere last season—just did the unthinkable. She took down Madison Keys in the Adelaide International quarterfinals. We’re talking about the defending Australian Open champion getting bounced 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Keys was firing aces like usual, nine of them to be exact. But she was messy. 41 unforced errors? You can't win like that at this level. Mboko just stayed steady. She’s now moving into the semifinals to face Aussie wild card Kimberly Birrell.
On the men's side in Adelaide, Tommy Paul looks like he’s finally over that foot injury from last year. He dismantled Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 6-2. He’s into the semis and looks sharp. Like, scary sharp. He’ll face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who handled Valentin Vacherot in straight sets.
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Auckland’s Rain Problem and the Shelton Scare
Auckland was a mess today. Rain basically ruined the schedule at the ASB Classic.
Ben Shelton is in actual trouble. Before the skies opened up, he was trailing Sebastian Baez 7-5, 0-1. Shelton’s serve, which is usually a literal weapon, got broken three times in that first set. They’ll have to finish that tomorrow.
Only one guy actually made it through the rain: Marcos Giron. He beat Luciano Darderi 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. It took him over two and a half hours, and honestly, it was a grind. He’s the first player to reach two semifinals already in this young 2026 season.
Australian Open Qualifying: The "Old" Guard and the New Kids
The qualifying rounds in Melbourne are where dreams go to die, or in Sloane Stephens' case, where they get a second lease on life. She’s fighting through the bracket and just secured a comeback win to put her one match away from the main draw.
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Then you have Lilli Tagger. This 17-year-old Austrian girl was down a set and 5-0 in a tiebreak. 5-0! She somehow clawed back to win. It’s the kind of match that makes you realize why we watch this sport.
The Draw Everyone Is Texting About
While the tennis matches today scores are rolling in, the real news dropped in the 2026 Australian Open draw ceremony.
Bad news for Novak fans. Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are in the same half. This means they can’t meet in the final. If they both take care of business, we’re looking at a brutal semifinal rematch of their 2024 clash. Sinner is chasing a "three-peat" here in Melbourne, which sounds insane to say out loud, but the guy is playing like a machine.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz is on the other side. He’s the World No. 1 and looking for that career Grand Slam. He starts his tournament against a local Aussie, Adam Walton.
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Why Today’s Results Actually Matter
- The Keys Collapse: Seeing Madison Keys struggle with 40+ errors a week before her title defense is a massive red flag.
- Mboko is Legit: This isn't a fluke. Winning the National Bank Open last year was one thing, but beating a Top 10 player in three sets proves she’s a contender for a deep run in Melbourne.
- Shelton’s Consistency: If Ben Shelton can't find a way past Baez tomorrow, he’s going into the year’s first Major with zero momentum.
What to Watch Tomorrow
The action isn't slowing down. You’ve got the Auckland leftovers to finish, and the Adelaide semifinals are set to be electric.
Keep an eye on Mirra Andreeva. She also moved into the Adelaide semis today after a total rout of Maya Joint. She’s playing with a level of aggression that makes her look much older than 18.
If you’re tracking the scores, don’t just look at the sets. Look at the break point conversion rates. That’s where the Australian Open will be won or lost next week. Guys like Giron are winning because they’re converting 50% of their chances. Players like Keys are losing because they’re letting 12 break points fly against them.
Go grab some coffee. The night sessions in Melbourne are about to get even more intense as the final qualifying spots are decided.
Check the official ATP and WTA live scores late tonight to see if Stephens and Tagger actually make the main draw. If Tagger makes it, she’s going to be the "giant killer" everyone picks in their bracket.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the rescheduled Auckland times; Shelton vs. Baez resumes Friday afternoon local time.
- Watch the Adelaide semifinal between Mboko and Birrell for a glimpse at the WTA's next big rivalry.
- Finalize your Australian Open brackets now that the Djokovic/Sinner collision course is confirmed.