Carlos Alcaraz’s quest to complete a career Grand Slam remains firmly on track after the world No.1 overcame a stern test from Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann to reach the third round of the 2026 Australian Open on Wednesday.
The top seed prevailed 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 in a gripping encounter on Rod Laver Arena that was far closer than the scoreline suggests, particularly during a punishing opening set that lasted 78 minutes- the longest first set Alcaraz has played at a Grand Slam.
Hanfmann, ranked No.102, made his intentions clear early. The 34-year-old unleashed heavy groundstrokes and booming serves, breaking Alcaraz in the fourth game to surge to a 3-1 lead. Calm under pressure, the Spaniard responded immediately, using his athleticism and court coverage to claw his way back and force a tiebreak.
The breaker was fiercely contested. Hanfmann briefly held the advantage, but Carlos Alcaraz raised his level when it mattered most, reeling off four straight points late on to seal the set and let out a roar of relief.
“I knew he was going to play great,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview. “To be honest, it was tougher than I thought. Yannick has a style I’m not really comfortable with, so it wasn’t easy today.”
Having survived the opener, Alcaraz began to assert his authority in the second set. He broke serve in the fourth game and relied on his trademark pace and precision to avoid another extended arm-wrestle, closing out the set with increasing confidence as the Melbourne heat intensified.
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Hanfmann’s resistance waned further after he received medical treatment to his torso at the changeover before the third set. Sensing the finish line, Alcaraz accelerated, breaking twice to race to a 5-2 lead.
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Although the German mounted a final defiant stand- saving multiple break points and two match points with blistering forehand winners- Alcaraz held his nerve. On his third match point, Hanfmann sent a backhand wide, prompting the crowd to rise as the Spaniard sealed victory after 2 hours and 44 minutes.
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“It was tough… the ball was coming like a bomb,” Alcaraz said. “I’m really happy I got through that first set and then started to feel better tactically and with my shots.”
The win marks another consistent run in Melbourne for the 22-year-old, who has now reached at least the third round of the Australian Open for a third straight year. He remains two wins away from matching his best result at the tournament- quarter-final appearances in each of the past two editions.
Alcaraz will next face either qualifier Michael Zheng or 32nd seed Corentin Moutet as he continues his bid to become the youngest man in history to complete a career Grand Slam and the youngest in the Open Era to claim seven major singles titles.
