Australian Open 2026 Preview: Players to Watch and Key Storylines

The 2026 Australian Open is set to electrify Melbourne Park as the tennis world descends on the Southern Hemisphere from January 12 to February 1, 2026. With the main draw officially kicking off on Sunday, January 18, anticipation is at an all-time high for a tournament that promises historic milestones and a generational power struggle. This year’s edition features a “new-look” finals weekend and a return to the roots of the sport with an opening ceremony exhibition headlined by the legendary Roger Federer.

History Of The Australian Open

The Australian Open is the oldest of the four Grand Slams, first played in 1905 as the Australasian Championships. For much of its early history, it was shaped by tradition and distance, staged mainly on the grass courts at Kooyong and often dominated by Australian icons like Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson, and Margaret Court, who helped cement the tournament’s place in the country’s sporting identity.

The tournament’s biggest turning point came in 1988, when it moved to Melbourne Park and switched from grass to hard courts. That change modernised the event, helped attract stronger international fields, and turned Melbourne into a more physical, demanding test that rewards endurance and adaptability. The introduction of night sessions also became a defining feature, creating the unique atmosphere and late finishes that the Australian Open is now famous for.

In the modern era, Melbourne has been a stage for dominance and legacy. Novak Djokovic built his greatest Slam stronghold here, while Roger Federer produced iconic runs and unforgettable finals. On the women’s side, champions like Serena Williams used Melbourne as a platform to reinforce their greatness.

More recently, the Australian Open has reflected the sport’s generational shift, with Jannik Sinner winning the 2025 men’s title and Madison Keys claiming the 2025 women’s crown, highlighting both the rise of the new era and the depth of today’s game. Now, with the tournament expanded to a 15-day schedule, the Australian Open continues to evolve, balancing tradition with innovation, and remaining one of tennis’s most revealing tests of greatness.

The Men’s Draw: A Fight for the Throne

The men’s field is headlined by a three-way battle for supremacy between the established king of Melbourne and the two young titans of the sport. Jannik Sinner arrives as the two-time defending champion, aiming to join Novak Djokovic as the only man in the Open Era to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.

However, the top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz enters with perhaps the most at stake; the Spaniard is seeking his first maiden Melbourne title to complete a historic Career Grand Slam. Alcaraz will be navigating this campaign with a fresh dynamic in his corner after a shocking split from his longtime coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. Looming large is the ten-time champion Novak Djokovic, who at 38 remains a formidable threat after reaching four major semifinals in 2025.

The Women’s Draw: Heavy Hitters and New Alliances

The women’s tournament is wide open, featuring one of the deepest fields in recent memory. All eyes are on defending champion Madison Keys, who looks to replicate her stunning 2025 run, and the world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who has reached the final in each of the last three years in Melbourne. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek is on a mission to secure her own Career Grand Slam after her breakthrough 2025 Wimbledon victory. They are joined by the high-flying Coco Gauff, whose refined serve and defensive grit have made her a consistent threat on hard courts. With the return of Naomi Osaka and the rise of young stars like Mirra Andreeva, the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is truly up for grabs.

The Home-Grown Hope and Notable Storylines

The “Happy Slam” will be pulsing with energy for local favourite Alex de Minaur, who enters with his highest-ever seeding (projected #7) and a massive wave of momentum after a career-best 2025 season. Australian fans are also excited about the debut of Maya Joint as a seeded player, marking a new era for Australian tennis. On a bittersweet note, the tournament will proceed without the recently retired Rafael Nadal, who jokingly “withdrew” once more after hand surgery, and the notable absence of Holger Rune, who is sidelined with an Achilles injury.

The Contenders

Mens

Jannik Sinner (Italy)

Jannik Sinner enters 2026 as the undisputed man to beat on hard courts. Having successfully defended his title in 2025 by defeating Alexander Zverev, he is now chasing a historic “three-peat” in Melbourne. Sinner finished the 2025 season in spectacular form, capturing his second consecutive ATP Finals title in Turin. His game has evolved into a nearly impenetrable wall of baseline power, and his experience as a two-time defending champion makes him the heavy favourite to lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup once again.

Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)

While Sinner owns Melbourne, Carlos Alcaraz owns the top of the rankings. The Spaniard enters as the World No. 1 after a dominant 2025, where he captured both the French Open and the US Open. For Alcaraz, the Australian Open remains the final piece of the puzzle to complete his Career Grand Slam. After splitting the four majors with Sinner in 2025, the tennis world is bracing for a potential “No. 1 vs. No. 2” championship showdown that could settle the debate over who truly leads the new generation.

Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

At 38, Novak Djokovic remains the greatest threat to the youth movement. Despite a title-less Grand Slam season in 2025, the first in his career since 2017, he showed he still has the elite level required by reaching the semifinals at the US Open. As a 10-time champion in Melbourne, the court speed and conditions suit him better than anywhere else. For Djokovic, 2026 is about more than just a trophy; it’s about securing that elusive 25th Grand Slam to stand alone as the most successful player in the history of the sport.

Alex de Minaur (Australia)

“The Demon” carries the weight of a nation into 2026 with his highest-ever career seeding at No. 7. De Minaur’s 2025 was a breakout year characterised by top-5 wins and a relentless defensive style that has finally been bolstered by a more aggressive serve. Australian fans haven’t seen a local man with this much momentum since Lleyton Hewitt, and the anticipation for a deep run into the second week is at an all-time high.

Women

Madison Keys (USA)

Madison Keys returns to Melbourne Park as the reigning queen after her stunning 2025 run. Her victory over Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final was one of the greatest “power-hitting” displays in tournament history. Entering as the No. 7 seed, Keys will be under intense pressure to defend her maiden Major title. If her massive serve and flat forehand find their rhythm in the Melbourne heat, she has proven she can hit anyone off the court.

Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)

Aryna Sabalenka enters 2026 as the WTA Player of the Year and the top-seeded woman. She was the most consistent player of 2025, winning her second US Open and reaching three of the four Grand Slam finals. After the heartbreak of losing her Australian Open crown to Keys in last year’s final, Sabalenka is on a mission of redemption. Her physical dominance and improved mental toughness make her the statistical favourite to reclaim the trophy.

Iga Swiatek (Poland)

Iga Swiatek proved her detractors wrong in 2025 by finally conquering the grass at Wimbledon, completing a 6-0, 6-0 rout in the final. Now, she turns her focus back to the hard courts of Melbourne, the only surface where she hasn’t reached a final since 2022. As the No. 2 seed, Swiatek is looking to use her superior movement and tactical variety to neutralise the power-hitters that typically dominate the Australian Open.

Amanda Anisimova (USA)

No player saw a more meteoric rise in 2025 than Amanda Anisimova. Voted the WTA Most Improved Player, she jumped from outside the top 30 to World No. 4 after reaching the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open. Her effortless power and clean ball-striking have made her a fan favourite, and many analysts believe 2026 is the year she finally breaks through for her first Grand Slam title.

Bottom Line

This Australian Open feels like a turning point, not just a starting line. With Jannik Sinner chasing history in Melbourne, Carlos Alcaraz hunting the one major that still eludes him, and Novak Djokovic fighting for legacy on his favourite stage, the men’s draw is loaded with consequence. On the women’s side, the power of Aryna Sabalenka, the ambition of Iga Świątek, and the defending champion Madison Keys ensure there is no safe path to the final weekend. Melbourne Park is set for two weeks of heat, noise, and pressure, and when the last ball is struck, the season’s hierarchy may already be rewritten.