Alize Cornet defeated Garbine Muguruza 6–3, 6–3 in the first round of the Australian Open on hard court, delivering a significant upset against the pre-match favourite. Muguruza, the heavy favourite at 1.16 odds, was unable to find her rhythm against Cornet, who capitalised on her opponent's struggles to secure a commanding two-set victory. The French player's clinical performance across both sets demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level despite entering the match as a substantial underdog at 5.89 odds. The result marked an important early-round scalp for Cornet at Melbourne Park and represented a concerning departure from form for Muguruza in the opening stages of the tournament.