Australian No.1 Maya Joint is hoping to lead the local women to a 34-year Australian Open best as Round 1 wraps up on Tuesday.
Catch up on all the news from Day 3 of the Australian Open below!
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‘NOT GREEDY’: DE MINAUR EXPLAINS PLAYERS’ PUSH FOR BETTER PAY
Alex de Minaur has joined the chorus of voices calling for an increased revenue share from the Australian Open, explaining the push for money is not about “being greedy”.
De Minaur was among a host of the sport’s biggest names who were lobbying the grand slam bosses for better pay and conditions, with the leading players in men’s and women’s tennis joining forces last year seeking from the four majors a higher percentage of tournament revenue and contributions towards welfare programmes such as pensions.
They also want to be consulted when any of the Grand Slams consider making changes that could directly affect them.
Nine Newspapers reported last week that Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Madison Keys, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek were among those involved.
The Australian Open, meanwhile, pledged a 16 percent increase in the total prize purse to Aus$111.5 million (US$75 million) this year.
The winners of the men’s and women’s singles at the first Grand Slam of the year will each take home Aus$4.15 million, up 19 percent from last year.
Gauff had already made her thoughts on the matter clear ahead of the Australian Open, declaring the record prize pool was “progress” but “still not where we’d like it”.
Asked on Friday about the increase, two-time major champion Gauff said: “The percentage is still, of revenue comparison, not where we would like it.
“I think there’s still further conversations that have to be had, not just with the Australian Open, but with all the slams.”
She added: “The collective feeling is that, yes, there’s been progress, but I still think it’s not where we would like to see it.”
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Top players say the changes they are after would benefit the entire tennis ecosystem, and not just those at the top.
It was a sentiment echoed by de Minaur after his straight sets win over Mackenzie McDonald, where the Australian clarified the motivations behind the players’ fight for a bigger slice of the pie.
“It ultimately comes down to perspective, right? It’s not about headlines,” de Minaur said.
“It’s not about we’re demanding more and that we’re being greedy, right?
“That’s some of the things that potentially the media grasps on, and that’s their headlines, but it’s all about perspective. What we’re fighting for is to better our sport and ultimately for the players to be better compensated.
“Saying this, we are incredibly well-compensated as of right now, but when you look at the percentages and the differences between other sports, then of course there is room to grow.
“I think that’s what we’re trying to get to ultimately, to a point where we’re all helping each other grow this beautiful sport. We have seen it grow over the years immensely.
“Ultimately, I think it’s going to be for the best for both the players and the tours and everyone in this sport if we all sit down in a room and we kind of find ways to keep on improving and we keep the communication going. That’s basically all.”
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Gauff, meanwhile, said on Monday after her first round win over Kamilla Rakhimova that she had not heard any rumours of players considering protests if their demands are not met.
But in saying that, she also added: “I do know players are going to put more pressure on the slams if certain things aren’t being met to where we see it”.
Gauff and de Minaur were not the only players to be asked about the calls for an increased revenue share, with Daniil Medvedev telling reporters “everyone” will “benefit”.
“Tennis has good money but the percentage, I think, is important from the revenue. That’s the most important,” Medvedev said.
“So I don’t know if it’s even an open number of what the percentage for us is in terms of prize money, and then should be comparable to other sports.
“So I let our teams handle this. Hopefully it will lead to more transparency between grand slams and players, because that’s going to make, I think, everyone benefit from this.”
World number three Alexander Zverev, meanwhile, struck a less upbeat tone when quizzed about the potential changes ahead of the Australian Open.
“Don’t really feel like there’s any progress, to be honest,” the German said.
“I feel like it’s just a lot of talk, a lot of time invested into it, and not really any changes.” Sabalenka, who like Gauff has represented the players in talks with the majors, said “we always can do better” when asked if the Australian Open concessions were enough.
“But I think all of the slams, they are trying to work together with us and come to a conclusion. I hope one day we’ll get to a happy place for everyone,” she added.
DAY 3 PREVIEW
Australia’s top-ranked woman Maya Joint can confirm a 34-year best for the locals at the Australian Open when she begins her tournament this morning.
The No.30 seed is facing fellow teen Tereza Valentova from 11am on John Cain Arena, and winning would make her the fifth Aussie woman through to the second round.
With an all-Aussie battle between Maddison Inglis and Kim Birrell taking place on Tuesday night, it’s already confirmed that at least five Aussie women will advance, the best performance since 1992 when eight made it through.
Joint has battled illness in the lead-up to her home grand slam and Valentova is no slouch making the 19-year-old no certainty to advance.
She switched nationalities from the USA a few years ago thanks to her Australian father.
Other Aussies in action on Tuesday include wildcards Taylah Preston, Christopher O’Connell and James Duckworth, plus qualifier Dane Sweeny.
In the evening Daria Kasatkina will play her first Australian Open match as an Australian, having switched nationalities from Russia last March.
Kasatkina made the fourth round at Melbourne Park in 2025.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 3 ORDER OF PLAY
Show courts and Aussies – all times AEDT
Rod Laver Arena
Day session from 11:30am
Oleksandra Oliynykova (UKR) vs [9] Madison Keys (USA)
[8] Ben Shelton (USA) vs Ugo Humbert (FRA)
Night session from 7pm
Hugo Gaston (FRA) vs [2] Jannik Sinner (ITA)
[16] Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs Antonia Ruzic (CRO)
Margaret Court Arena
Day session from 11:30am
[5] Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs Raphael Collignon (BEL)
[5] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) vs Kaja Juvan (SLO)
Night session from 7pm
Katie Boulter (GBR) vs [10] Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Shintaro Mochizuki (JPN) vs [31] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
John Cain Arena
Day session from 11am
Tereza Valentova (CZE) vs [30] Maya Joint (AUS)
[15] Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs Alex Michelsen (USA)
Night session from 5pm
Valentin Royer (FRA) vs [9] Taylor Fritz (USA)
[Q] Maddison Inglis (AUS) vs Kim Birrell (AUS)
Kia Arena
From 11am
Shuai Zhang (CHN) vs [WC] Taylah Preston (AUS)
Third match (est. 2pm)
[Q] Dane Sweeny (AUS) vs Gael Monfils (FRA)
ANZ Arena
Second match (est. 12:30pm)
[WC] Christopher O’Connell (AUS) vs [Q] Nishesh Basavareddy (USA)
Fourth match (est. 5pm)
Daria Kasatkina (AUS) vs [Q] Nikola Bartunkova (CZE)
Court 6
Third match (est. 3pm)
[WC] James Duckworth (AUS) vs [LL] Dino Prizmic (CRO)
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