Australian Open 2026: Who Will Win the Prize?

Like every year, the Australian Open captivates fans from around the globe. 2026 will be no exception, promising an exciting start to the Grand Slam tournament calendar. Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley proclaimed that 2026 could be the event’s turning point in tennis history. This article will delve into the details of the upcoming tournament, revealing the favourites and potential new stars.

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Predicting next season’s Grand Slams is never easy — still, we’ll do our best to try to do it with the highest quality. Here’s a look at the players most likely to contend for each major title in 2026.

The Favourites and the Big Names

The first names worth mentioning, and the ones most eagerly awaited by the tournament’s devoted fans, are Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Craig Tiley says their rivalry pushes both to new heights — contrasting styles, fierce battles, and a determination that could define the sport’s future. Despite his doping issues, Janik Sinner is expected to become a grand champion again; time will tell.

Among the other favourites are Novak Djokovic, who continues to impress in Melbourne, and also Daniil Medvedev, who is demonstrating brilliant results on hard courts. In the women’s tournament, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka may become the grand stars, joined by Coco Gauff, a confident Wuhan Open Champion.

In general, the table of the expected players is as follows:

As the table shows, the Australian Open promises to be a fierce event. Still, there are a couple of names that may surprise even the most dedicated fans.

Dark Horses and Sleeper Picks

While Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka take the leading places in the table, some underdogs and dark horses can really amuse at AO 2026. As for men, there are several promising names:

Arthur Fils: The young Frenchman offers standout DFS value, combining a 62.5% hard-court win rate, back-to-back Masters 1000 quarterfinals – a real dark horse.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard: Enters Melbourne with the tour’s most significant weapon — a record-breaking 153 mph serve and the power to upset anyone.</li>

Jack Draper: He is a high-upside wildcard — fresh off a 2025 US Open semifinal run. Jack’s powerful lefty serve and forehand make him dangerous on fast courts despite consistency concerns.

As for women, Mirra Andreeva, with a 72.2% win rate in 2025, Paula Badosa, who reached the 2025 Australian Open semifinals, and Jasmine Paolini, who improved her movement and tactical versatility, are serious opponents. They are worthy competitors to the top-ranked players, despite they lost to them in the past. Still, they have honed their skills and are entering the new season with renewed vigour.