Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka have overcome first round jitters to launch their 2026 Australian Open campaigns, while veteran wildcard Venus Williams wound back the clock to summon some of her best tennis. Brett Thomas and Alexia Mitchell unpack the night session, while AO Radio's Nat Edwards talks the rise of Chinese tennis on The Evening Serve. And the draw opens up as stars Marta Kostyuk, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Flavio Cobolli are sent packing, while Alexander Zverev passes a tough test. Plus, a preview of the matches to watch on Day 2.

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Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka have overcome first round jitters to launch their 2026 Australian Open campaigns, while veteran wildcard Venus Williams wound back the clock to summon some of her best tennis. Brett Thomas and Alexia Mitchell unpack the night session, while AO Radio's Nat Edwards talks the rise of Chinese tennis on The Evening Serve. And the draw opens up as stars Marta Kostyuk, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Flavio Cobolli are sent packing, while Alexander Zverev passes a tough test. Plus, a preview of the matches to watch on Day 2.
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What happens when tennis and fun collide at high speeds? The answer is: Pod Laver Arena. It’s tennis news, hot gossip and a bevy of unforced errors, hosted by comedians Mike Goldstein and Lizzy Hoo.

We chat to the world’s best players, explore the AO with an ‘all access pass’, and probably get into shouting matches with fans. So talc up your thighs and charge into the net, this is Pod Laver Arena! Putting the ‘fun’ in tennis ‘fundamentals’… or something.

What happens when tennis and fun collide at high speeds? The answer is: Pod Laver Arena.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s tennis news, hot gossip and a bevy of unforced errors, hosted by comedians Mike Goldstein and Lizzy Hoo.
We chat to the world&rsquo;s best players, explore the AO with an &lsquo;all access pass&rsquo;, and probably get into shouting matches with fans. So talc up your thighs and charge into the net, this is Pod Laver Arena! Putting the &lsquo;fun&rsquo; in tennis &lsquo;fundamentals&rsquo;&hellip; or something.

Pod Laver Arena

Day 1: Alcaraz & Sabalenka lift off, vintage Venus, seeds scattered!

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/ca4b83e9-c493-416e-9e62-b3d600ea9daa/transcript