Honestly, if you weren’t glued to a screen today, you missed a bit of a whirlwind. The tennis world is currently vibrating with that pre-major energy, and while the "real" bracket at Melbourne Park hasn't kicked off its main draw yet, there were trophies lifted and legends crying (okay, maybe just the fans) in what turned out to be a massive Saturday.
Basically, the biggest headline for anyone asking who won in the tennis today is 20-year-old Jakub Mensik. He didn't just win; he snatched the ASB Classic title in Auckland in a way that should make his first-round opponent at the Australian Open, Pablo Carreno Busta, a little nervous.
Mensik’s Ice-Cold Finish in Auckland
Jakub Mensik is quickly becoming that player nobody wants to see in their section of the draw. Today in the Auckland final, he took down Sebastian Baez with a 6-3, 7-6(7) scoreline.
It looked like it might go to a third set for a minute there. Mensik was serving for the match at 6-5 in the second, but his first-serve percentage decided to take a nap at the worst possible time. Baez, being the absolute fighter he is, broke back and forced a tiebreaker.
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Then things got wild.
Baez was up 6-3 in that breaker. Three set points. Most kids would’ve folded, but Mensik later told reporters he just remembered his semifinal comeback against Fabian Marozsan and decided to "back himself." He saved all three set points, hammered an 18th ace to get a match point of his own, and sealed his second ATP title. It’s a huge confidence booster for the Czech world number 18 right before the first Slam of 2026.
The Federer Effect at Melbourne Park
While Auckland was about the future, Melbourne was all about the nostalgia. Today marked the Australian Open’s first-ever formal opening ceremony, and it was basically the Roger Federer show.
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Even though he's retired, Federer stepped onto Rod Laver Arena for an exhibition doubles match that felt more like a rock concert. He partnered with Andre Agassi and later Ash Barty to take on Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter.
Did he win?
Well, it was an exhibition, so the "score" matters less than the vibes, but Federer did emphatically finish the session with a leaping overhead winner that had a capacity crowd of 15,000 going absolutely nuts. Novak Djokovic was even spotted in the stands watching his old rival. Federer mentioned how much it meant to him to be back, especially with the "Rocket" himself, Rod Laver, sitting courtside at 87 years old.
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Other Results You Might Have Missed
It wasn't just the pros. The college and doubles circuits were busy too.
- ASB Classic Doubles: French duo Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti claimed the title. It was a heavy one for Arribage, who dedicated the win to his girlfriend and a close friend after recent family losses. They beat Alexander Erler and Robert Galloway 7-6(2), 6-4.
- NCAA Action: In Annapolis, the Navy men's team swept St. Bonaventure 7-0. George Cutone was particularly dominant at the #1 singles spot.
- UTRGV vs. St. Joseph’s: A heartbreaker for the Vaqueros. Despite Will Roberts and Sam Whitehead picking up a ranked doubles win, the team fell 4-3 to St. Joseph’s in a match that came down to some gritty third-set battles in Stillwater.
What This Means for the Australian Open
The main draw starts tomorrow (Sunday), and today's results gave us some major clues. Matteo Berrettini has unfortunately withdrawn from the tournament right before his match with Alex de Minaur, which is a massive blow for the Italian but a bit of a "lucky" break for the local hero De Minaur.
Also, keep an eye on Venus Williams. She’s officially set to become the oldest woman to ever compete in the Australian Open main draw this year. The 2026 edition has been expanded into a three-week festival, and with over 217,000 fans already showing up for qualifying and exhibitions, the atmosphere is going to be suffocatingly loud.
If you’re looking to follow the action tomorrow, focus on the "Sincaraz" era. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have shared the last eight Grand Slam trophies between them. That is a level of dominance we haven't seen since the "Big Three" days, and everyone is wondering if someone like Mensik or a resurgent Djokovic can break that stranglehold.
Practical Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Sunday Schedule: Most matches at Melbourne Park start around 11:00 AM local time. If you're in the US, that's your Saturday night/early Sunday morning.
- Update Your Fantasy Bracket: With Berrettini out, make sure your picks reflect the change in the bottom half of the draw.
- Watch Mensik vs. Carreno Busta: After today’s performance in Auckland, this is the first-round match with the highest upset potential.