Tennis fans have already been spoilt with some incredible matches and title runs during the Summer of Tennis, kicking off the 2026 tennis calendar in style.
With tournaments in Adelaide and Hobart ongoing this week, here are five players that are building into impressive form leading into this year’s Australian Open.
Daniil Medvedev
Kicking off his 2026 campaign at the Brisbane International with a 22nd career title, Daniil Medvedev is having a mini resurgence of late.
After a slump in form in 2025, Medvedev ended his longtime partnership with coach Gilles Cervara and brought Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke into his team.
This change appeared to be the catalyst for a late-season flourish, with semifinal runs in Beijing and Shanghai before a breakthrough in Almaty, where Medvedev captured his first ATP title in more than two years after a thrilling three-set victory against Corentin Moutet.
Now with the title in Brisbane just three months later, Medvedev has that winning feeling again and has the form to go deep at AO 2026, an event he has fallen agonisingly short at, losing in the final in 2021, 2022 and 2024.
“I will try my best," the 29-year-old said. "I for sure have been playing very good end of the season. I think I made six out of last seven tournaments quarters, a lot of them semis, two titles.”
“I'm happy with the way I was playing, and I know that when I'm playing good there are not that many players that can beat me easily or at all.”
Aryna Sabalenka
Another player winning a 22nd career title and in red hot form right now is Aryna Sabalenka, who secured a second Brisbane International title on Sunday.
Picking up where she left off in 2025, the world No.1 opened her 2026 season with a dominant run to the title, not dropping a set along the way.
“It's super special," she said. "I'm happy to hold this trophy, happy to start this season on a very high note. Yeah, happy with the level I was able to show throughout this week.”
Last year's runner-up and two-time champion at the AO is keeping a level head despite being the overwhelming favourite leading into the tournament.
“I think this week I did it really well, but nobody knows what's gonna happen in the future,” she said.
“My focus is on my game and developing myself and making sure that I'm strong and healthy heading to the AO.”
Belinda Bencic
Earning the most valuable player award at the United Cup 2026, Belinda Bencic produced a standout 9-1 record overall, with her only loss coming in the mixed-doubles final against Poland.
The Swiss No.1 picked up two top-10 singles wins in the tournament, over world No.8 Jasmine Paolini and, most impressively, world No.2 Iga Swiatek, and will be hoping to carry this momentum into AO 2026.
Bencic took time out with the birth of her daughter Bella in April 2024 and started the 2025 season ranked outside the top 500. She climbed to No. 11, which earned her the 2025 WTA Comeback Player of the Year Award; her five singles victories at the United Cup have taken her into the top 10.
“Of course, big confidence booster," she said. "You start the year and you're just trying to get matches in. Obviously, it's been great playing match after match but being pushed so much from everyone.”
“[I'm] also super happy to be in the top 10 now. I think it's been a huge goal, maybe a huge ride after the whole comeback, to come back and prove this to myself, that it's possible.”
Alexander Bublik
Another player entering the top 10, for the first time in his career, is Alexander Bublik after a great run en-route to the title at the ATP Hong Kong Open, building on a breakout year in 2025 in which he won four ATP tour titles, the second-most behind Carlos Alcaraz.
While the 28-year-old revealed after the match that entering the top 10 was in his sights for 2026, for it to happen so early in the year was unexpected.
"The only goal for this season was to achieve the top 10 and in the first week I have won the title and I am into the top 10," he said.
"If you had told me that last April I would never have believed you. But it is a pleasure and I hope to continue in the same way."
Elina Svitolina
Fan favourite Elena Svitolina opened her 2026 account with a title in Auckland, giving her a major boost ahead of the Australian Open.
With her equally popular husband, Gael Monfils, winning the men’s title in 2025, Svitolina said she was motivated to follow in his footsteps.
“Before the tournament, he told me it would be amazing if we both won the same tournament,” she said. “He was not sure if this ever happened before.
“Of course, I had it always in the back of my mind. It really motivated me but also [created] a little bit of pressure. I tried to do my very best to get this title.”
Moving to world No.12, Svitolina is on the cusp of entering the top 10 for the first time since the birth of her daughter 2021.
With one more week of lead-in tournaments and qualifiers before the AO 2026 main draw gets under way, every player will be seeking to start the year off in the right fashion.