This week Erik and Aidan discuss the first two rounds of the Australian Open and preview what’s to come in the next few rounds. The tournament has had a few surprises so far, with young players putting on good performances to make it through the first two rounds. Meanwhile, veterans like Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka have returned to vintage form in order to battle through their opening rounds, giving tennis fans a hit of nostalgia. As the rounds go on, we will no doubt start to see more top seeded players fall, so be sure to check back next week for another episode!

Contents

Intro 0:00

First Round Upsets 3:05

Second Round Surprises 10:48

Are Rublev/Medvedev back? 14:34

Tsitsipas overhyped? 15:54

Round 3 Matchups 17:26

What’s New? 22:52

Bet of the Week 29:17

Match of the Week 31:37

In this Bonus Episode of Painting Lines, Erik and Aidan discuss their immediate reactions to the 2026 Australian Open Draw. Starting off with some potential upsets their looking at in the early rounds, they move on to discussing other exciting matches they are looking forward to in the opening rounds. They then project some possible underdog stories in the tournament, and talk about which of the top contenders have the best chances to win the tournament overall. Be sure to check back next week for an update on week one of the Australian Open!

Contents

Intro/Unlucky De Minaur 0:00

Potential Top 20 Upsets 1:30

Exciting Round 1 Matches 8:32

Potential Matchups 9:52

Surprise Runs 13:27

Sinner's Path to the Final 18:05

This week Erik and Aidan discuss the first big week of tennis in 2026. Starting off in Brisbane, where the field was stacked with talent. Seeds were dropping like flies, but Daniil Medvedev put on a vintage performance, looking like he may be able to return to the highest level. In Hong Kong, the top seeds stood out, with a 1 vs 2 final, and a Top 10 breakthrough for Alexander Bublik. Finally, in the United Cup Poland finally managed to win the title after 2 years of heartbreak, while Stan the Man and Switzerland battled to second place. Be sure to check back next week for another episode!ContentsIntro 0:00Brisbane Recap 1:35Hong Kong Recap 17:35United Cup 23:02What’s New 28:05Bet of the Week/Upset Alert 33:28Match of the Week 35:07