Marina Stakusic succumbed to apparent cramps after needing a medical timeout earlier in the match. Photo: IZHAR KHAN
Day two of the tournament saw several Australians progress into the second round, however none in more strange fashion than Priscilla Hon.
Her opponent was wheeled away in a wheelchair.
Elsewhere, Stan Wawrinka showed his love and appreciation for the crowd at Melbourne Park, Alja Tomaljanovic told off her dad and Novak Djokovic picked up another record.
Here are the quick hits from the Australian Open.
1. Hon wins as qualifier leaves in wheelchair
The drama was high in a first-round clash between Australian wildcard Priscilla Hon and Canadian qualifier Marina Stakusic.
After Hon won the second set to force a decider, Stakusic called for a medical timeout for treatment on her right thigh.
The Australian shot out to a 3-0 lead in the third set, before Stakusic managed to get a break back at 2-3 and this time Hon needed the trainer for a shoulder issue.
Stakusic managed to hold serve in the next game, but could barely move as she battled apparent cramps and dropped the next two, twice collapsing after service games and having to be helped up.
Australia's Priscilla Hon reacts after a point against Canada's Marina Stakusic. Photo: IZHAR KHAN
At 3-3 and down 40-0, she conceded the point to get some treatment at the changeover, but it didn't work.
After dropping serve again and with Hon all set to serve for the match at 5-3, Stakusic collapsed to the court and conceded defeat, with Hon and trainers putting her in a wheelchair so she could leave the arena.
2. A Filipino takeover on Court 6
It's hard to put into words how big the demand was for Alexandra Eala's first-round match.
The 20-year-old Filipino drew a crowd so large that staff had to tell people the outside court was at full capacity and people weren't allowed to queue.
Genuinely wondering if Alex Eala is already the most popular player in women’s tennis right now?
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 19, 2026
Thousands of Filipino fans who couldn’t get into Court 6 are watching her match on screens around the Australian Open grounds. pic.twitter.com/eTjj6FG75r
Even extra security around the court was needed to manage the influx.
This forced hundreds of Filipino fans, desperate to catch a glimpse of their new national hero, to flood Grand Slam Oval to watch Eala and American Alycia Parks's showdown on one of the big screens.
On Court 6, flags, shirts and posters were waved by excited fans, with their incredibly loud cheers heard from a mile away.
Fans were even given multiple warnings by the chair umpire for cheering during points and distracting players. It wasn't heckling, just invested excitement.
Court 6, aka Eala's turf @wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/rwSEoFJxsA
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2026
Parks however, overcame the raucous crowd to win through to the second round 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.
She said the atmosphere was "difficult" to deal with when she spoke to reporters after the match.
"It definitely wasn't the worst, but in between first and second serves, the clapping was something I had to ignore," she said.
"I'd say I'm good when crowds are against me."
3. Stan the (old) man gets his win
When 2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka announced that 2026 would be his final season on tour, it felt fitting that his farewell circuit should start at Melbourne Park.
This was where the now 40-year-old won the first of his three grand slam titles - a feat made all the more amazing considering he won them in the era of Big Three dominance.
Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka reacts after a point against Serbia’s Laslo Djere. Photo: WILLIAM WEST
But when Wawrinka dropped the first set against unseeded Serbian Laslo Djere, his loyal Stans must have feared their farewell would be fleeting.
But you can never rule out Stan.
The veteran powered back to claim a 5-7 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) victory and become the second oldest player to win a men's singles grand slam match at Melbourne Park.
He thanked the crowd afterwards.
Stan, come on, we can't be crying already
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2026
Grateful for all that you keep bringing to the #AusOpen, @stanwawrinka!@wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/w4zf56UwkU
Only Ivo Karlovic was older when he won in 2020 aged 40 years and 326 days old, a mere 30 days older than Wawrinka.
4. Tomljanović tells off dad
The interaction with the crowd is one of the great things about the Australian Open.
Ajla Tomljanović came back from a set down to beat Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1.
And while the Australian praised the crowd on John Cain Arena for their support, she did have some words for her dad, Ratko.
"My coach is quiet but my dad is loud," she said.
"I had to tell him to be quiet a bit, he's almost too encouraging sometimes."
She added that he is not too loud, but that "his timing is off sometimes".
Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic celebrates after victory against Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva. Photo: WILLIAM WEST
"I lost a really tough point and he was like, 'it's OK, it's OK,' and I hate that," she said with a smile.
"Just wait a bit before you say that."
Lesson learned, dad.
5. The Djoker gets 100th win at Melbourne Park
With his first round victory over Spaniard Pedro Martinez, Novak Djokovic racked up his 100th win at the Australian Open.
It was his 110th game played at Melbourne Park as well, which means he has only ever lost 10 games at the AO.
There's a fun fact - he has won just as many Australian Open titles as he has games lost at the Slam.
Speaking after the match he said "it's a nice feeling to be a centurion".
"I always give my best when I am on the court, of course history making is a great motivation for me," he added.
It is actually the third grand slam where Djokovic has 100 or more wins. The only one left for him to tick off is the US Open, where he has 95 wins.
-ABC
