Jannik Sinner Advances to Australian Open Second Round After Opponent Retires

Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending Australian Open men's singles champion and world No. 2, advanced to the second round of the 2026 tournament after his first-round opponent, Hugo Gaston, retired due to an undisclosed injury. Sinner led 6-2, 6-1 after 68 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. He acknowledged the anticlimactic nature of the win but praised Gaston's talent. Sinner aims to become the second player in the Open era, after Novak Djokovic, to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.