The Australian Open, the first tennis major of the year, gets underway in Melbourne on 18th January, and it promises to be as exciting as ever. In the men’s tournament, 10-time champion Novak Djokovic is seeking that elusive 25th Grand Slam title. But he’ll be up against it as Jannik Sinner, who has won the last two, and Carlos Alcaraz, who has never made it past the quarters, will be vying for glory.
In the women’s tournament, meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka is seeking to bounce back from defeat in last year’s final to Madison Keys. Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina also look like strong contenders. Another woman who is sure to make a splash is the tennis legend Venus Williams, who has been granted a wildcard to compete at the age of 45 years and seven months!
With the event coming so early in the tennis season, it sometimes throws up a few surprises. But who are the players to watch at the 2026 tournament?
Men’s Singles: Djokovic Dream to Remain Elusive as Sinner Bags Hat-Trick
As with many of the Grand Slam in recent times, the Australian Open in 2026 might well come down to a straight battle between current champion Sinner and his great rival Alcaraz. As things stand, Sinner is the favourite, at a shade under even money, with Alcaraz priced around 6/4. Despite not having won a Grand Slam event since 2023 (when he won all but Wimbledon), and withdrawing from the Adelaide International, Djokovic is next in the betting at 10/1. That gap between the top two and the rest, however, tells you all you need to know about who the bookies think will be contesting the final at Melbourne Park.
For us, and indeed many pundits and fans, Djokovic’s time has passed and he simply can’t maintain the necessary physical intensity to win a major these days. He might surprise us, of course, especially if the two favourites both suffer shock defeats in the earlier rounds, but we feel too many stars would have to align for the Serb to land his 25th Grand Slam title.
So the question is, will it be Sinner or Alcaraz? Given that the Spaniard has won each of the other majors twice but never triumphed in Melbourne, he will certainly be going all out for victory. Sinner, however, is a proven winner at the event and we feel he will have the edge when the two players – almost inevitably – meet in the final.
Women’s Singles: Favourite Sabalenka Is Not Invincible
Sabalenka is undoubtedly the player to beat after making it to the last three Australian Open finals and winning two of them. Her opponents will take heart from last year’s final, however, when American Madison Keys beat the woman from Belarus. Keys was the heavy underdog, but she overcame the odds to claim her first Grand Slam title against a visibly frustrated Sabalenka.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek has won plenty of Grand Slams over the years, with four French Opens, one US Open, and a Wimbledon title. So far, she hasn’t been able to land the career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open, however. She made the semi-finals in both 2022 and 2025, last year losing out to the eventual winner, Keys. This time around, the Pole will be doubly determined to go all the way, after winning Wimbledon last year and thus being just the Aussie Open away from the career Grand Slam.
As mentioned, Venus Williams will be appearing in Melbourne, five years after last playing at the event. She never won the tournament after being beaten in the final twice by her younger sister, Serena, but the five-time Wimbledon champ is sure to enjoy her moment in the spotlight. She hasn’t got any realistic chance of winning, but – with a good draw – she has an outside chance of progressing to the second round.
Djokovic Swansong in Melbourne?
With 24 grand slam titles, Djokovic has won more than any other man in the history of tennis. He has to share the record of 24, however, with Margaret Court, who also landed that many Slams in the women’s game. It would be fantastic for Djokovic to cap off his career by going one better, and given that he’s won the Australian Open more than any other Slam, this event is probably his best chance.
Ultimately, though, we just feel the top two are too good at the moment. Djokovic may be the sport’s GOAT but nobody can beat age. Some have suggested he may even retire after this tournament, but the player himself has been bullish in recent times about wanting to continue until 2028 if he can, and the Olympics. Others have suggested this year’s Wimbledon could be when he quits, so it seems the player is keeping us guessing. Whenever he goes though, we will always have the memories of his incredible 10 wins in Melbourne.