If you’ve been checking your apps and wondering who is playing tennis today, you’ve likely noticed that the vibe has shifted. We are currently in that weird, electric liminal space between the warm-up events and the season’s first Grand Slam. It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026. For some players, today is about lifting a trophy and collecting a paycheck. For others—the ones you’ll see in the headlines tomorrow—it’s about a final practice session at Melbourne Park before the Australian Open starts on Sunday.
The "big" news of the morning? Mirra Andreeva just absolutely steamrolled the competition in Adelaide. Honestly, it wasn't even close.
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The Trophy Winners: Auckland and Adelaide Finals
Most of the "playing" happened early if you're watching from the States or Europe. In New Zealand, the ASB Classic wrapped up with a result that should make the rest of the ATP tour very nervous. Jakub Mensik just won his first title of 2026, taking down Sebastian Baez in a straight-sets battle, 6-3, 7-6.
Mensik is only 20. Think about that.
He didn't just win; he looked like he was playing a different sport during the first set. Baez made a real push in the second-set tiebreak—had three set points, actually—but Mensik didn't blink. He’s heading into Melbourne with a ridiculous amount of momentum.
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Meanwhile, over at the Adelaide International, Mirra Andreeva just claimed her first WTA 500 title. She played Victoria Mboko in the final and essentially turned it into a clinic. 6-3, 6-1. The stats are actually kind of staggering: she broke Mboko’s serve five times in just over an hour. At 18 years old, she’s already moving into the top 10 of the rankings.
If you were looking for live "main draw" matches right this second, you might be disappointed to find the courts mostly quiet as the tours move their operations to Melbourne. But "quiet" is a relative term in tennis.
The Australian Open Draw: Who Starts Tomorrow?
Since today is the official "Day 0" for the Australian Open, the schedule for tomorrow (Sunday, Jan 18) was just released. This is why people are searching for who is playing tennis today—they want to know who they need to wake up for in a few hours.
The Sunday lineup is massive. Because the Australian Open is now a 15-day event, we get some heavy hitters right out of the gate.
- Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed on the men's side. He plays Australian Adam Walton in the night session at Rod Laver Arena.
- Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champ (well, two-time winner), starts her quest for a hat-trick against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
- Alexander Zverev is also on the Sunday slate, facing Gabriel Diallo.
- Venus Williams is back. At 45. She’s playing Olga Danilovic on John Cain Arena. It’s arguably the most "must-watch" match of the opening day just for the sheer history of it.
Why Today Matters for the Underdogs
While the stars are doing press conferences and "fan days" today, the doubles specialists are still grinding. The Australian Open doubles draw was finalized today at 3:00 PM local time.
If you are a hardcore fan, today is the day you check the practice court schedules. In Melbourne, you’d see Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek hitting with high-intensity partners. They aren't playing "matches" in the traditional sense, but these sessions are often more intense than a first-round blowout.
Actionable Insights for Tennis Fans Today
If you’re trying to follow the action over the next 24 hours, don't just wait for the TV broadcast. The transition from the 250/500 events to the Slams is messy.
- Check the "Order of Play" (OOP): The official Australian Open site has the Sunday schedule up now. It starts at 11:00 AM Melbourne time (which is Saturday night if you're in New York).
- Watch the Weather: Melbourne is notorious for "four seasons in one day." If you’re betting or just following scores, high heat tomorrow could trigger the extreme heat policy, which changes the game entirely for players like Alcaraz who rely on high-intensity movement.
- The "Mensik" Factor: Keep an eye on Jakub Mensik in the AO draw. After his Auckland win today, he’s the "dark horse" everyone is talking about in the players' lounge.
Basically, today is the calm before the storm. The trophies in Auckland and Adelaide have been handed out. The bags are packed. By the time the sun comes up tomorrow in Melbourne, the real chaos begins.