Australian Open 2026: Pat Cummins steals the spotlight with surprise Centre Court appearance on opening day [Watch Video]
(Courtesy : Australian Open Screengrab)
Cummins is currently out of action and is recovering from injury.
The tennis extravaganza that the Australian Open brings does not fail to attract stars from all across the sporting world, including cricket. Recently Australian cricket team captain Pat Cummins was in the stands, enjoying the action on the opening day of the Happy Slam.
Cummins, who is recovering from an injury, was seen seated alongside ‘Mr. Smile’, the Major League Baseball star Francisco Lindor. And both were clearly engrossed in the action on court.
The 32-year-old is currently recovering from a lumbar bone stress injury and is not fully fit to return to competitive cricket. As a result, he will miss the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan and is also set to be unavailable for Australia’s opening fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against Ireland.
However, speaking of the Rod Laver stands, it was filled with several other high-profile personalities as well. American professional wrestler Cody Rhodes was also present, enjoying the tennis.
Adding even more star power to the occasion, 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer was seen in the stands alongside the legend on whose name the court is built – Rod Laver.
Also Read: Top five title favourites in men’s singles at Australian Open 2026
The two legends were watching the opening-day match of World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who later managed to capture the special moment with both Federer and Laver in a selfie from the court after her match.
On the tennis front, Day 1 of the Australian Open 2026 saw plenty of action, with almost all the top seeds advancing comfortably.
In men’s singles World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz defeated Adam Walton in the first round at Rod Laver Arena, winning 6–3, 7(7)–6(2), 6–2.
Meanwhile, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will open his tournament on Monday, facing Pedro Martinez in his first-round encounter. World No. 2 Jannik Sinner is set to begin his campaign on Tuesday at the same venue against Hugo Gaston.
In the women’s singles draw, Sabalenka crushed France’s Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6–4, 6–1. Iga Swiatek was also in action and came through a challenging match against Yue Yuan, winning 7(7)–6(5), 6–3 to move into the next round.
Which sports personalities attended the Australian Open 2026 on Day 1?
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins, MLB star Francisco Lindor, wrestling icon Cody Rhodes, and tennis legends Roger Federer and Rod Laver were among the notable attendees.
Why is Pat Cummins not playing cricket at the moment?
Pat Cummins is recovering from a lumbar bone stress injury, which has ruled him out of the T20I series against Pakistan and Australia’s opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Which match did Roger Federer and Rod Laver watch together?
Federer and Laver watched World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s opening-round match on Day 1 at Rod Laver Arena.
When will Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner begin their campaigns?
Novak Djokovic is set to play on Monday against Pedro Martinez, while Jannik Sinner will begin his tournament on Tuesday against Hugo Gaston.
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Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.