Pat Cash reveals what is being said behind the scenes about the lack of exciting matches at the Australian Open

Follow us on Google Discover

The 2026 Australian Open hasn’t been the classic tournament we hoped for…

In particular, the second week has been extremely underwhelming.

In the 2026 Australian Open fourth round, quarterfinals, and women’s semifinals, only one out of 25 matches required a deciding set.

That was Coco Gauff’s three-set win over Karolina Muchova, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

Aryna Sabalenka is now the — best women’s player of all time

Where are you ranking her?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

The fans have expressed their displeasure at the product on display, but what is being said behind the scenes?

Commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash revealed all.

Pat Cash says corporate and sponsors are talking about the lack of exciting matches

“It’s just very strange,” he said.

“Everybody is talking about it, the people in the corporates, the sponsors.

“Everybody is going, this hasn’t really set on fire, this tournament, and it hasn’t.

“I keep getting asked, ‘Why do you think that is?’ I don’t know, I think it’s maybe just one of those things that happens.”

Matches at the 2026 Australian Open (men’s)

Matches at the 2026 Australian Open (women’s)

He did, however, share one theory as to why the matches have been so one-sided.

“People come out of the off-season, sometimes they’re a little bit rusty,” said Cash.

“It’s just a bit weird, I don’t think we should read too much into that.

“If it happens again, the stats man will be looking pretty closely at why, who’s winning and losing.”

British tennis legend Annabel Croft was also keen to weigh in.

“I know, that’s a long time ago, isn’t it?” she said when told Gauff vs Muchova was the last match that went the distance.

“It’s surprising, we were talking earlier about how in the past a lot of women’s matches were so long and drawn out, over three hours for some of them, maybe three and a half hours.

“But it’s been an unusual Championship in that regard.

“We’ve seen some very clinical performances, I think the courts are quite swift, actually, so the big hitters and big servers are getting the job done quite quickly.”

The numbers don’t look great, but how do they compare to the 2025 Championships?

Matches at the 2026 Australian Open vs 2025 Australian Open (men’s)

Matches at the 2026 Australian Open vs 2025 Australian Open (women’s)

• Men’s three-set matches: 2025 – 2026 (+36%)
• Men’s four-set matches: 2025 – 2026 (-15%)
• Men’s five-set matches: 2025-2026 (-31%)
• Women’s two-set matches: 2025-2026 (+7%)
• Women’s three-set matches: 2025-2026 (-22%)

There’s a clear drop-off in longer, more exciting matches from 2025 to 2026.

Those in charge will hope that the remaining four matches of the 2026 Australian Open will make up for what has been a largely forgettable event.

The matches that can save the 2026 Australian Open

There are only four singles matches left to be played at this year’s Australian Open: The two men’s semifinals, the women’s final, and the men’s final.

• Men’s SF 1 – Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev
• Men’s SF 2 – Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner
• Women’s F – Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina
• Men’s F – Carlos Alcaraz/Alexander Zverev vs Novak Djokovic/Jannik Sinner

In fairness, all four matches have the potential to blow the roof off Rod Laver Arena.

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are tied at 6-6 in their head-to-head, and their semifinal promises to be a close encounter.

Then, the prospect of the 10-time champion, Novak Djokovic, taking on the two-time defending champion, Jannik Sinner, is mouthwatering, to say the least.

And, the women’s final: Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina, a rematch of their title showdown in 2023, which required a deciding set, also looks set to be a classic.

Finally, there’s the men’s title match, which many believe will feature Alcaraz and Sinner again.

If they do meet in the final, and it’s anything like their Roland Garros epic a year ago, fans will have nothing to complain about.

Only time will tell if the last four matches can light up the Australian Open, but we certainly hope so!

The men’s semifinals will take place on Friday, January 30, before the women’s final on Saturday, January 31, and the men’s final on Sunday, February 1.