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Grand timing in Melbourne as history ticks closer at Australian Open 2026
MUMBAI: Time, as every tennis fan knows, waits for no one and in Melbourne, it is about to strike loudly. The countdown is nearly over as the Australian Open opens the 2026 Grand Slam calendar from 18 January to 1 February, ushering in a fortnight where precision, pressure and legacy collide under the Australian sun.
This year’s curtain-raiser comes with more than the usual early-season buzz. Three of the sport’s brightest stars arrive with history firmly in their sights. Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek both stand one title away from completing the elusive career Grand Slam, while Jannik Sinner is chasing a rare third consecutive men’s singles crown in Melbourne.
For Alcaraz, the stakes are monumental. At just 22, the world No. 1 already owns six Grand Slam titles and is the youngest man to have lifted majors on all three surfaces. A stellar 2025 saw the Spaniard notch 70 match wins, his best season yet and arrive in Melbourne as the man everyone wants to stop. “Winning all four Grand Slams is one of the greatest achievements in our sport,” Alcaraz said ahead of the tournament, stressing that calm and focus will be key if destiny comes knocking.
Świątek’s path is equally compelling. A triumph would place her among an elite club of just 18 players including Rod Laver, Chris Evert and Roger Federer to have conquered all four majors. Fittingly, the decisive moments would unfold on Rod Laver Arena, where the echoes of tennis history are impossible to ignore. Laver himself, an 11-time major champion, believes timing and belief remain everything: seize the moment, and the unimaginable can happen.
Standing firmly in the way is Sinner, Alcaraz’s fiercest rival and the dominant force of recent Slams. The Italian has shared the past eight Grand Slam titles with Alcaraz and could become only the second man to win three straight Australian Open singles titles. Reflecting on his near-flawless 2025, Sinner said his focus remains on learning from every match victory or defeat and evolving relentlessly.
Beyond the headline acts, the men’s draw brims with ambition. Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and João Fonseca all arrive eager to build on strong seasons. On the women’s side, Coco Gauff, Belinda Bencic and Mirra Andreeva will look to disrupt Świątek’s march and etch their own names on the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
As the first Grand Slam of the year gets underway, the margins will be microscopic and the pressure immense. Two weeks of blistering rallies, late-night finishes and clock-watching drama now await. In Melbourne, the question is simple, has the time finally come for tennis history to be rewritten?
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
