While bringing you all the latest news and features from the season-opening Grand Slam, AusOpen.com editors and writers are also contemplating what might unfold over the next fortnight.
Here are team members’ predictions of the AO 2025 men’s and women’s champions, plus potential outsiders and what has them most excited this Australian Open.
Patric Ridge
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
A record-setting victory beckons for Sabalenka at AO 2025, as she aims to become just the sixth player (male or female) to win three straight AO titles in the Open era.
Australia, where she has won four of her 18 WTA-Tour level titles, is something of a home away from home for Sabalenka, who kicks off her campaign against US Open 2017 champion Sloane Stephens.
READ: Women's Draw - Sabalenka, Gauff on semifinal collision course
Women’s long shot: Naomi Osaka
It has been a long and winding road back for Osaka, but she comes into the tournament after reaching her first final since 2022.
The 27-year-old had to withdraw from that match in Auckland, handing victory to Clara Tauson, but she has put any fitness concerns to the side. If she gets on a roll, then she’ll no doubt have the fans cheering her on.
Men’s champion: Carlos Alcaraz
It was another excellent season for Alcaraz in 2024 – the Spaniard won the French Open and Wimbledon, becoming the first player in the Open era to win his first three majors on three different surfaces, and claimed silver at the Olympic Games in Paris.
READ: Five reasons we love Carlos Alcaraz
The AO remains the one Grand Slam missing from his collection, and the world No.3 will no doubt want to set a marker for the season by going all the way at Melbourne Park for the first time.
Men’s long shot: Alex de Minaur
It will certainly not be easy for home hope De Minaur, who has been seeded in the top eight at a major for the first time in his career. He comes up against big-hitting Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round and is on course for a potential matchup with former AO finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.
But if De Minaur hits his stride and reaches the latter stages, then he’ll be no stranger to battling victories over top-tier opponents.
I’m most excited about…
The dynamic between Novak Djokovic and his new coach Andy Murray. A quibble or two in the heat of the moment during a packed-out arena will sure cause a stir, even if they’re bound to swiftly move on from any disagreements.
READ: Djokovic x Murray - The unlikely partnership set to shake up tennis
Sean A’Hearn
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
Despite a tough draw, she’s the player to beat in the women’s game right now, especially on hard court.
Women’s long shot: Ashlyn Krueger
A steady riser in 2024, Krueger also had a solid start to the year in Brisbane and Adelaide. The 20-year-old American is one to look out for.
Men’s champion: Daniil Medvedev
Another hard court machine, Medvedev always goes under the radar at Grand Slams, particularly since becoming a father. He plays his best tennis at the Australian Open too.
MORE: ‘Going to see a lot of interesting things from me’ - Medvedev ready
Men’s long shot: Jiri Lehecka
In good form in the lead-up to the AO, Lehecka has the game to beat anyone on his day. He’s also made the quarterfinals in Australia before.
I’m most excited about…
Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios in the doubles and the number of times the camera pans to Andy Murray whenever Djokovic is playing.
Simon Cambers
Women’s champion: Coco Gauff
In hot form coming in, Gauff seems to have transformed her game in the off-season.
READ: Five reasons we love Coco Gauff
Women’s long shot: Maria Sakkari
She has a new coach in Raemon Sluiter, who could be the catalyst this year.
Men’s champion: Novak Djokovic
He looks fully motivated and with Andy Murray on his side he can win No 25.
Men’s long shot: Alex de Minaur
He has a rough draw but could make the final.
I’m most excited about…
Seeing Andy Murray in the box as Novak's coach. It’s going to be fun!
Ravi Ubha
Women’s champion: Jasmine Paolini
The Italian continues to improve her game and holds confidence from going deep at majors.
Women’s long shot: Polina Kudermetova
Kudermetova quickly reset after making the Brisbane final, not dropping a set in Australian Open 2025 qualifying.
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
Already dominant on hard courts, Sinner won’t have to face both Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz if he is to repeat his title-winning run.
ANALYSIS: Sinner shooting for the stars after sensational 2024
Men’s long shot: Joao Fonseca
The Brazilian prodigy owns a 13-match winning streak (including the Next Gen Finals), not to mention a potent game.
I’m most excited about …
The first week at majors, as always. They produce so many unsung heroes, crazy matches and late finishes.
Sophie Smith
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
There’s a lot of warranted talk about Coco Gauff making her mark at Melbourne Park but short of an injury it’s hard to see Sabalenka passing up an opportunity to win a third consecutive crown.
Women’s long shot: Naomi Osaka
Last season was a rebuild for Osaka after she took maternity leave. She comes into this AO nursing an abdominal injury that spoiled her chance of winning a prelude event in Auckland but seems to have shaken it off. Work with her new coach is paying dividends.
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
It’s hard to know what’s harder, winning your first Australian Open or defending it. The Italian has never launched a Grand Slam title defence, but he is rested and appears fit and focused for the task.
Men’s long shot: Alex de Minaur
Naming him as a long shot seems unfair to the highly-ranked Aussie whose top-seeded rivals are publicly naming him as a threat. However, as tournament boss Craig Tiley says, there’s only a handful of (the same) men who have won Grand Slams in the past 15 years.
I’m most excited about…
The dynamics of recently retired superstar turned coach Andy Murray working for former rival Novak Djokovic.
Zoe Malliaris
Women’s champion: Coco Gauff
Gauff is in fantastic form after a great end to 2024. Having reached the semifinals last year, I believe she’ll go all the way this time.
Women’s long shot: Naomi Osaka
Osaka is no stranger to the Australian Open, and this tournament could mark her return to the pinnacle of tennis.
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
Sinner is unstoppable right now, and I think he's primed to claim back-to-back titles.
Men’s long shot: Matteo Berrettini
Berrettini’s injuries over the past couple of seasons have dropped his ranking, but with his experience, back in form he’s a dangerous contender.
READ: The story of when Sinner dethroned Djokovic at AO 2024
Dan Imhoff
Women’s champion: Coco Gauff
As tempting as it is to name the two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka, a late-2024 lift and an early-season surge at the United Cup in Sydney has Gauff’s confidence high and ready to carry her to a second hard-court major.
Women’s long shot: Karolina Muchova
One of the finest shot-makers in the sport, a fit-again Karolina Muchova can cause serious damage having upset Ash Barty to reach the AO 2022 semifinals, before her run to the Roland Garros final in 2023 and back-to-back US Open semifinals the past two years.
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
Having assumed the mantle of Hard-Court King within a year from Novak Djokovic, world No.1 Jannik Sinner should deliver the goods again and become the first man since Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros 19 years ago to successfully defend their first major.
Men’s long shot: Jiri Lehecka
After he has quietly but surely stamped his credentials on the blue hard courts Down Under for the past three years, last year’s Adelaide and this year’s Brisbane champion Jiri Lehecka has recovered from a back injury that derailed the middle of his 2024, and it could spell danger for his rivals.
I'm most excited about …
Daily miso salmon from the broadcast compound.
Jackson Mansell
Women's champion: Coco Gauff
A tough draw for Aryna Sabalenka might favour Gauff by the time they potentially meet in the semis. Expect a few upsets in the other half of the draw; the world No.3 could prevail to win her maiden Australian Open title.
Women's long shot: Katie Boulter
An honorary Australian, with her red-hot form to end 2024 Boulter can do some serious damage at Australian Open 2025. With a relatively open draw ahead of her, don't be surprised if she makes it deep into the second week.
Men’s champion: Carlos Alcaraz
A potentially easier draw compared to most top seeds, Alcaraz has evolved his game enough in the last 12 months to complete the career Grand Slam.
Men's long shot: Tommy Paul
Currently in scintillating form, the draw could open up for the American if he can prevent an early upset.
I’m most excited about…
Watching the ATP Next Gen alumni take over Melbourne Park. The likes of Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz have already taken the world by storm, but with Joao Fonseca, Learner Tien and Alex Michelsen all qualifying, they will produce some exciting tennis.
Lee Goodall
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
I won’t be winning any awards for originality but it’s hard to look beyond the defending champion given her recent form at Melbourne Park. She’s the player to beat in the women’s draw.
Women’s long shot: Mirra Andreeva
Despite her young age, she showed improvement and started to make progress at Grand Slam level in 2024 en-route to the last four at Roland Garros.
She showed she likes the conditions at Melbourne Park when she reached the fourth round 12 months ago as a 16-year-old.
Men’s champion: Alexander Zverev
He may not be many people’s pick ahead of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (and Novak Djokovic too perhaps?) but on his way to the year-end No.2 ranking the German was improving and building confidence throughout 2024.
Surely it can only be a matter of time before last year’s Roland-Garros runner-up achieves his dream of a major singles trophy?
Men’s long shot: Sebastian Korda
Korda seems to like the conditions and playing in Australia and enjoyed a good week in Adelaide prior to the AO. He has always had the class, quality and potential for a really deep run at one of the four majors if everything slots into place.
MORE: 10 players who followed their parents into tennis
I’m most excited about…
Danielle Collins still on tour. The American said throughout 2024 that it would be her last season before early retirement. Thank goodness she reconsidered and we get to enjoy one of the most entertaining players on tour for a little while longer.
Matt Trollope
Women’s champion: Coco Gauff
I love the idea of seeing Aryna Sabalenka complete the first AO women’s three-peat this century, but after watching the level Gauff produced to go unbeaten at United Cup, I think she’ll win.
Women’s long shot: Jelena Ostapenko
She knows how to win a Slam - she's done it before.
Men’s champion Jannik Sinner
It’s hard to go past Sinner. He’s practically unbeatable on hard courts, he’s in superb form, and with two majors under his belt already in the past 12 months, he knows he can go all the way again.
Men’s long shot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Players have never seen second serves of this speed.
I’m most excited about…
Seeing these two Grand Slam finals set for the first time: Sinner v Alcaraz, and Sabalenka v Swiatek.
Matt Clayton
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
Rod Laver is her ‘Aryna’, after all …
READ: Brisbane champion Sabalenka targets AO three-peat
Women’s long shot: Mirra Andreeva
And not just because she offers good headline potential.
Men’s champion: Carlos Alcaraz
It will be a tough road, but it feels like it’s time to complete the set.
Men’s long shot: Frances Tiafoe
It’ll be exciting and engaging if he goes deep.
READ: Tiafoe relights fire heading into AO 2025
I’m most excited about…
A Djokovic-Alcaraz quarterfinal. Order more popcorn.
Kate Clark
Women’s champion: Coco Gauff
I think this could be Gauff’s year in Melbourne. She fell to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinal last year – there’s a chance of a repeat at the same stage this year - Gauff could well go all the way this time.
Women’s long shot: Beatriz Haddad Maia
The 2023 Roland Garros semifinalist made it to the third round here last year and fought through to the quarterfinals at the US Open in September. She’ll be confident about a potential third round meeting here with Katie Boulter, having beaten the Brit at the fourth time of asking last year in Ningbo.
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
It’s difficult to look beyond Sinner for the title following his extraordinary season last year. A win would make him the first Italian to take three Grand Slam titles – who doesn’t love a fairytale ending?
Men’s long shot: Jack Draper
The 23-year-old Brit has been steadily climbing the rankings and will take confidence from his performances in 2024. His surprise run to the semifinals at the US Open last year – where he got the better of Alex de Minaur in the quarters before falling to eventual champion Jannik Sinner - bore out his assertion that his favourite surface is hard court, so he should feel at home at Melbourne Park.
READ: Five reasons we love Jack Draper
I’m most excited about…
The atmosphere at Melbourne Park. Every Slam has a different feel and the Australian Open certainly lives up to its name as the Happy Slam.
Gill Tan
Women's champion: Aryna Sabalenka
The 26-year-old started the season emphatically in Brisbane and her hard court prowess will be on full display in Melbourne as she charges towards a hat-trick.
Women's long shot: Naomi Osaka
If the injury that the Japanese star sustained in the Auckland final is manageable, there's no reason that she can't chart a path back into the Grand Slam winners' circle.
Men's champion: Jannik Sinner
The Italian had a 2024 to remember, notching a 70-6 win-loss record that culminated with victory at the ATP Finals in November. Recharged and eager to assert his dominance as the top seed, the 23-year-old will be hungry to defend his crown.
Men's long shot: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
The 21-year-old is one of the most exciting prospects in men's tennis and has earned a seeding at a major for the first time. His booming serve and explosive groundstrokes means he's a threat to anyone in the draw.
I'm most excited about...
Seeing who surprises us by making their way to the business end of the tournament, and to learning whether existing Grand Slam champions can build on their legacies.