Australian Open 2026: Upsets on court, millions at stake off it

Day one delivered chaos and star power, with Aussie wildcard Talia Gibson’s upset, a historic triple-tiebreak epic, and Carlos Alcaraz opening his campaign toward a potential Career Grand Slam.

Behind the tennis, the numbers are just as eye-catching: a record A$111.5 million prize pool - up 16% year on year - delivering A$4.15 million for each champion, and an A$10 million Nexo Bracket Challenge reshaping fan engagement.

Add a US$30 million AO Ventures fund and a three-week tournament model designed to lift revenue, and the Australian Open is fast becoming as much a growth asset as a Grand Slam.