Qualifying is over. The main draw is looming. But if you think today was just a "warm-up" for the Australian Open, you haven't been watching the screens at Adelaide or Auckland.
Today was about trophies. Big ones.
We’re sitting on the edge of the first Grand Slam of 2026, and the momentum shifts we saw in the last 24 hours have completely flipped the script for next week. If you’re hunting for tennis scores live scores results today, you’re not just looking at numbers; you’re looking at the birth of a new pecking order. From Mirra Andreeva’s absolute demolition job in South Australia to Jakub Mensik’s ice-cold nerves in New Zealand, the "Next Gen" isn't coming—it's already taking the podium.
The Adelaide Demolition: Mirra Andreeva is Scary
Honestly, there is no other way to put it. 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva just played one of the most clinical finals I’ve seen in years. She faced Victoria Mboko in the Adelaide International final today, and after a slightly cagey start, she basically turned into a backboard.
She won 12 of the last 13 games.
Read that again.
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Andreeva secured her first WTA 500 title with a 6-3, 6-1 victory in just over an hour. It wasn't just that she won; it was how she did it. She broke Mboko five times and looked completely unbothered by the pressure. During the trophy ceremony, she even joked that she didn’t know why her team was there because "it was all me." It’s that kind of confidence—sorta cheeky, mostly terrifying—that makes her a dark horse for the title in Melbourne.
With this win, she’s jumping up to World No. 7. She’s passing Jasmine Paolini. At 18. Let that sink in for a second.
Auckland Drama: Jakub Mensik’s Great Escape
While Andreeva was coasting, Jakub Mensik was fighting for his life in Auckland. The ASB Classic final against Sebastian Baez was a total grind. Mensik took the first set 6-3, but the second set was a war.
He was serving for the match at 6-5. He blinked. Baez broke him to force a tiebreak and then raced to a 6-3 lead in that tiebreaker. Three set points for Baez. Most 20-year-olds would have crumbled and prepared for a third set.
Mensik didn’t.
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He saved all three set points, stayed aggressive on the return, and eventually closed it out 7-6(7). It’s his second ATP title, and honestly, the way he handled those pressure points suggests he’s ready for the five-set marathons coming up at Melbourne Park. He mentioned after the match that he remembered a similar comeback from his semifinal against Fabian Marozsan. That’s elite-level memory and composure.
Hobart’s Qualifier Queen: Elisabetta Cocciaretto
If you love an underdog story, Hobart was your place today. Elisabetta Cocciaretto became just the fourth qualifier in history to win the Hobart International. She took down the American rising star Iva Jovic in straight sets.
Jovic has been the talk of the town lately, but Cocciaretto played "veteran" tennis—redirecting pace and making Jovic play one more ball every single time. It was a confidence booster that’ll move her up 24 spots in the rankings to No. 56.
On the doubles side, Janice Tjen and Katarzyna Piter continued their tear, winning 6-2, 6-2. They’re becoming a real force in the WTA 250 circuit.
Australian Open Qualifying: Who Made the Cut?
While the finals were grabbing the headlines, the "Final Round" of qualifying at Melbourne Park was a slaughterhouse of dreams.
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- Sloane Stephens took care of business against Lucia Bronzetti. We’ve seen Sloane go deep in majors before, and she looks fit.
- Taylor Townsend survived a marathon against Storm Hunter. It was 6-7, 6-2, and then a gutsy finish.
- Pierre-Hugues Herbert is back in a main draw. He ground out a three-set win over Guy Den Ouden.
The draw for the Australian Open is now set, and with the "Happy Slam" starting Sunday, these qualifiers have exactly zero time to celebrate. They’ll be back on court in less than 24 hours.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Scores
People look at a 6-3, 6-1 scoreline like Andreeva’s and think, "Oh, the opponent played badly." That’s almost never the case at this level. Mboko played well; Andreeva just took away her time.
In modern tennis, the "live score" is often a lie. A match that looks close on paper (like Mensik’s tiebreak) is often decided by two or three points where one player decides to be "brave" (Andreeva’s words) rather than safe.
If you're tracking tennis scores live scores results today, keep an eye on the "break points saved" stat. That’s usually where the trophy is won or lost.
Practical Steps for Following the Australian Open
Now that the pre-tournaments are wrapped up, here is how you should handle the next 48 hours:
- Check the Sunday Order of Play: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are both scheduled for the night session on Day 1. Alcaraz is facing Adam Walton, which should be a fireworks display.
- Monitor the Weather: Melbourne is famous for "four seasons in one day." Extreme heat or sudden rain can flip a match result faster than a tactical change.
- Watch the "Qualie" Winners: Players like Stephens and Townsend have already played three matches on these courts this week. They often upset seeds in the first round because they are more "rhythm-locked" than the top players who have been practicing on empty courts.
The transition from the 250/500 events to the best-of-five (for men) format at the Australian Open is the hardest physical jump in sports. Today's winners are flying high, but tomorrow, the count starts back at zero.