5 Live Sport: All About... Australian Open

BBC Radio 5 Live
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Jan 31, 2026 • 22min

Australian Open Daily: Elena Rybakina wins first Australian Open title

Gigi Salmon, Russell Fuller, Pat Cash and Annabel Croft react as Elena Rybakina beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne to win the Australian Open women's singles title for the first time in her career and secure her second Grand Slam title. In the deciding set Rybakina was 3-0 down to Sabalenka before staging a remarkable comeback, winning the next five games to claim the first Grand Slam singles title of the season. The team also look ahead to a historic men's singles final on Sunday which will either see Carlos Alcaraz become the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam or Novak Djokovic crowned as the oldest player to win an men's singles Grand Slam title and the first to win 25 majors.Timecodes: 0:15 - Rybakina wins her second Grand Slam title 3:30 - What went wrong for Sabalenka? 12:30 - Previewing the men’s singles final: Carlos Alcaraz v Novak Djokovic 16:30 - How will both players deal with recovery from five set semi-finals
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Jan 30, 2026 • 35min

Australian Open Daily: Djokovic & Alcaraz win thrillers to set up historic final

Gigi Salmon, Russell Fuller, Pat Cash and Annabel Croft review a dramatic day of men's singles semi-final action, where both Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz required five sets to beat Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev respectively. Alcaraz battled through a controversial cramp injury whilst Djokovic beat the reigning champion to reach his 38th Grand Slam final at the age of 38. Plus, the team react to the news that Emma Raducanu has split from her coach Francis Roig.1:00 - Novak Djokovic beats Jannik Sinner 8:00 - Novak Djokovic’s Interview 9:45 - Carlos Alcaraz Interview 12:00 - How Alexander Zverev lost having served for the match 21:30 - Emma Raducanu splits with coach Francis Roig
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Jan 29, 2026 • 22min

Australian Open Daily: Sabalenka & Rybakina reach women's final

Gigi Salmon and Russell Fuller are joined by Annabel Croft and Pat Cash as they review the semi-finals of the women's singles at the Australian Open. Aryna Sabalenka beat Elina Svitolina to reach her fourth Australian Open final in a row, whilst Elena Rybakina beat Jessica Pegula in straight sets to end her three year long wait for a Grand Slam final and to set up a rematch of the 2023 final.They also discuss the odd incident where the umpire called hindrance on Sabalenka during the first set, whether Serena Williams is teasing a comeback and Neal Skupski keeping the flag waving for the Brits as he makes it to the men's doubles final in Melbourne.1:00 - Why so many straight sets matches? 3:00 - Elena Rybakina makes her first final in three years 7:00 - Sabalenka makes her seventh consecutive hard court Grand Slam final 9:00 - Sabalenka hindrance incident 12:30 - Sabalenka gives her thoughts on the hindrance call 15:50 - Will Serena Williams make a comeback? 19:45 - Neal Skupski into doubles final
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Jan 28, 2026 • 24min

Australian Open Daily: Djokovic Advances After Musetti Injury as Sinner Awaits

Gigi Salmon is joined by Annabel Croft, Mark Woodforde and Abigail Johnson at Rod Laver Arena to reflect on a dramatic second day of Australian Open quarter-finals. Novak Djokovic reaches his 13th Australian Open semi-final after Lorenzo Musetti retires injured despite leading by two sets, raising questions about Djokovic’s form and fitness.Defending champion Jannik Sinner books his place in the last four with a straight-sets win over Ben Shelton, while Elena Rybakina ends Iga Swiatek’s career Grand Slam bid and Jessica Pegula continues her run with victory over Amanda Anisimova.Timecodes:02:01 – Djokovic progresses after Musetti injury 09:12 – Sinner into the semis despite some shaky moments 15:01 – Rybakina ends Swiatek’s Grand Slam hopes 19:52 – Pegula books her semi-final spot
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Jan 27, 2026 • 21min

Australian Open Daily: Gauff Crashes Out as Alcaraz Breaks Through

Gigi Salmon is joined by Russell Fuller and Pat Cash to react to Carlos Alcaraz reaching his first Australian Open semi-final with a straight-sets win over Alex De Minaur.They also discuss Coco Gauff’s heavy defeat to Elina Svitolina, Aryna Sabalenka’s relentless form, and the impact of extreme heat in Melbourne.Timecodes:00:31 – How the heat shaped the day 03:46 – Alcaraz reaches his first Australian Open semi-final 09:40 – Zverev sets up the last-four clash 11:13 – Coco Gauff’s shock exit 13:16 – Gauff on smashing her racket 15:26 – Sabalenka marches into the semi-finals
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Jan 26, 2026 • 19min

Australian Open Daily: History Made as Top Seeds Set Up Blockbuster Quarter-Finals

Gigi Salmon, Russell Fuller and Mark Woodforde wrap up Day 9 at the Australian Open, where history is made with the top six seeds in both singles draws all reaching the quarter-finals.We run through a star-studded last eight, discuss the rise of the American women, hear from Jessica Pegula after her win over Madison Keys, and look ahead to brutal heat and a huge test for Alex De Minaur against Carlos Alcaraz.Timecodes: 01:11 – All top seeds reach the quarter-finals 05:55 – American women dominate the last eight 07:38 – Jessica Pegula speaks to Russell Fuller 13:10 – Extreme heat forecast for Tuesday 16:40 – Woodforde predicts De Minaur v Alcaraz
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Jan 25, 2026 • 23min

Australian Open Daily: Alcaraz Serve Sparks Djokovic Comparisons

Gigi Salmon is joined by Russell Fuller and Annabel Croft to wrap up Day 8 at the Australian Open with Carlos Alcaraz's serve in the spotlight and whether it's been modelled on Novak Djokovic.Djokovic himself has a walkover into the last eight but what does Alex De Minaur’s run means for the home fans?There’s also chat on Aryna Sabalenka’s record-breaking tie-break streak and the rapid rise of American teenager Iva Jovic.Timecodes:01:49 – Why Alcaraz is still Annabel’s title favourite04:01 – Is Alcaraz modelling his serve on Djokovic?05:03 – Alcaraz reflects on his improved serve07:59 – Djokovic moves straight into the quarter-finals12:16 – Is Alex De Minaur ready for the next step?17:04 – Sabalenka thriving in the pressure moments18:15 – Teenager Iva Jovic reaches the last eight19:15 – Could Serena make a comeback?
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Jan 24, 2026 • 20min

Australian Open Daily: Osaka withdraws, extreme heat saves Sinner

Gigi Salmon and Russell Fuller are joined by 1987 Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash to review day seven of the action from the 2026 Australian Open. Naomi Osaka withdrew from the competition due to injury, whilst Jannik Sinner benefited from the extreme heat in Melbourne, which he admitted helped him beat American Eliot Spizzirri. Meanwhile Novak Djokovic added yet another record to the history books with his 400th win in Grand Slam competitions to advance to round four, whilst Stan Wawrinka, a former Australian Open Champion in 2014 waved goodbye as he exited the tournament for the final time.2:00 - Naomi Osaka withdraws due to injury 6:00 - Heat problems save struggling Sinner 11:45 - Jannik Sinner interview 14:00 - Novak Djokovic gets his 400th Grand Slam win 17:15 - Stan Wawrinka exits last Australian Open
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Jan 23, 2026 • 25min

Australian Open Daily: Norrie bows out, is British tennis punching below its weight?

Gigi Salmon, Russell Fuller and Grand Slam winning coach Dan Kiernan break down the sixth day of the Australian Open. Cameron Norrie exited at the hands of Alex Zverev, leaving no British players left in the singles competitions. Dan gives his response to if British tennis is punching below its weight. We also hear from Jamie Murray on the defeat of British doubles pair Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool.Yulia Putintseva aired her annoyance with the crowd after her win over Zeynep Sönmez, Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka make it through and how will the players deal with the extreme heat expected over the coming days.1:00 - Norrie loses to Zverev 4:00 - Cam Norrie Interview 5:00 - Assessing a disappointing Australian Open for the British singles players 6:30 - Dan Kiernan on whether British tennis punching below its weight 12:49 - Jamie Murray reacts to doubles loss 14:15 - Yulia Putintseva issues with the crowd 18:15 - Alcaraz and Sabalenka go through 19:20 - Getting prepared for the extreme heat
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Jan 22, 2026 • 20min

Australian Open Daily: Stan's farewell tour marches on & Cirstea feuds with Osaka

Gigi Salmon, Russell Fuller and wheelchair tennis Grand Slam champion Andy Lapthorne discuss day five of the 2026 Australian Open from Melbourne. Stan Wawrinka won a marathon five-set match over Arthur Gea to reach the third round in his final Australian Open at the age of 40, and there was shock in store too with qualifier Nikola Bartunkova beating tenth seed Belinda Bencic in the women's singles.The team also react to the post-match exchange between Sorana Cirstea and Naomi Osaka, and Gigi’s look for a 5 Live tennis fashion correspondent continues.

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