Carlos Alcaraz has never got past the quarter-finals in Melbourne and comes into the new year with a new coaching team.
Adam Walton has little chance of beating the World No. 1, but the Australian can keep it tight in the first set.
| Carlos Alcaraz | Adam Walton | |
| Nationality | Spain | Australia |
| Age | 22 (5 May 2003) | 26 (17 April 1999) |
| Height | 6'0" (1.83m) | 6'0" (1.83m) |
| Plays | Right-Handed | Right-Handed |
| World Ranking | 1 | 79 |
| Career High | 1 (September 2022) | 74 (October 2025) |
| ATP Tour Titles | 24 | 0 |
| 2025 ATP Tour Titles | 8 | 0 |
| Career Grand Slam Singles Titles | 6 | 0 |
| Australian Open Best Result | Quarter-Finals (2024, 2025) | First Round (2024, 2025) |
HTH
Alcaraz beat Walton on grass last year but didn't have it all his own way, winning 80-67 points.
| Year | Event | Surface | Round | Winner | Score |
| 2025 | Queen's Club | Grass | R32 | Alcaraz | 6-4 7-6 |
Alcaraz Chasing First Australian Open Title
Carlos Alcaraz reached 11 ATP Tour finals last year, winning eight titles. His rivalry with Jannik Sinner has become legendary with six of the showpiece appearances coming against the Italian.
The Spaniard beat Sinner to claim the French Open and US Open, either side of a defeat at Wimbledon. Their last clash came at the ATP Tour Finals with Sinner coming out on top.
The 22-year-old comes into the season with a new coach following the departure of Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz saying: “It’s a chapter of life that had to end.” Samuel Lopez has taken charge of coaching the World No. 1.
Tough Task for Walton
Adam Walton went 13-20 on the ATP Tour last year, going deepest in Los Cabos where he reached the semi-finals.
The Australian went 1-7 against Top 20 players, beating Daniil Medvedev at the Cincinnati Masters. Six of those eight encounters saw the first set go over 11.5 games.
The 26-year-old has suffered straight sets to Rinky Hijikata and Quentin Halys this year. His only win came in the Adelaide qualifiers, defeating World No. 475 Jake Delaney in 3 sets.