The first major of the year has drawn to a close so let’s look into the crystal ball to forecast what could happen for the rest of the season.
1. Djokovic to silence retirement rumours ahead of return to Melbourne Park
Winding back the clock with his biggest-name win at a Slam since defeating third seed Daniil Medvedev for the 2023 US Open trophy, Novak Djokovic showed he was still a Grand Slam force to be reckoned with at Melbourne Park.
A left leg muscle tear sustained during his statement victory over world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals scuppered any chance of an 11th Australian Open title in the semifinals.
Provided his 37-year-old body co-operates this season, it is more than enough to keep those competitive fires burning at least until Wimbledon 2026. The 37-year-old will finally capture his 100th career title in 2025 and commit to a return for AO 2026.
2. Sabalenka to face Swiatek for first time in a major final
Twice before the world’s two most dominant women, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, have been a point away from setting a highly anticipated maiden major final against each other.
Karolina Muchova was the first to foil the clash when she saved match points against Sabalenka in the 2023 Roland Garros semifinals, while Madison Keys fought off a match point against Swiatek to prevent the match-up at Melbourne Park this past fortnight.
The two multi-Slam champions are best placed to ensure the showdown finally eventuates at Roland Garros on the surface their most epic encounters have played out.
3. Sinner to claim his first non-hard-court Slam
The most dominant world No.1 since ATP Rankings began, Jannik Sinner tightened his grip on the hard-court majors after adding a second Australian Open to his 2024 US Open title.
Following five-set defeats by Alcaraz at Roland Garros and Daniil Medvedev at Wimbledon last year, the 23-year-old Italian has his sights set on adding a natural-surface Slam to his collection.
The All England Club was the site of his maiden Grand Slam semifinal in 2023, while he still managed to reach the semifinals in Paris last year in his first event back from a hip injury, so a triumph at either would only extend his runaway lead on top of the rankings.
4. Swiatek to set Open era record in Paris
The heartbreak of letting match point slip in this year’s Australian Open semifinals will add fuel to Swiatek’s fire when she returns for the season’s second major at her home away from home in south-west Paris.
Having already emulated Justine Henin and Monica Seles as the third woman in the Open era to three-peat at Roland Garros, the Pole, with Wim Fissette staying on as coach, will only increase her stranglehold on the clay-court major.
No woman in the Open era has collected four successive crowns on Court Philippe Chatrier, but the 23-year-old, yet to reach her peak, will defend her fortress with a record-breaking triumph in Paris.
5. Alcaraz to defend Roland Garros title
After being brought undone in the quarterfinals at Rod Laver Arena for the second straight year, Carlos Alcaraz has one more chance at becoming the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam when he returns to Melbourne in 2026.
In the meantime, the 21-year-old has the small task of attempting to defend his Roland Garros crown and snagging a third straight Wimbledon.
Fully fit, the Spaniard will time his run to perfection during the clay-court swing where he will become the first man to defend his maiden Roland Garros title since his idol, Rafael Nadal, in 2006.
6. Keys to crack world’s top five
More than eight years after she climbed as high as world No.7, Madison Keys’ watershed moment when she broke her Grand Slam duck at Melbourne Park returned the 29-year-old to her career-best mark.
The American said she had accepted she may never land her hands on a major trophy but with that hoodoo lifted, more than seven years after her sole prior appearance in a Slam decider, a weight was lifted at Melbourne Park.
Playing with nothing to lose and no points from a quarterfinal or beyond to defend until May in Madrid, expect Keys to break fresh ground and crack the top-five for the first time.
7. Shelton to snare top-eight seed for home major
From a teenager who famously had never used a passport until his first trip Down Under two years ago, Ben Shelton has quickly emerged as among the United States’ brightest hopes of ending a 21-year-plus wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion.
The now 22-year-old reached his second hard-court Slam semifinal at Melbourne Park this past fortnight, which lifted him back to world No.14.
The southpaw admitted he missed his window of opportunity against Sinner in the semifinals but expect him to make up big ground in time to secure a top-eight seeding at the US Open where a deep run will again be on the cards.
8. Zheng to channel golden Parisian moment with second-week run
One of the biggest upsets in the opening week of AO 2025 came when German Laura Siegemund derailed last year’s finalist, fifth seed Zheng Qinwen, in the second round.
Once head coach Pere Riba rejoins the Chinese player’s team following his recovery from hip surgery, expect the 22-year-old to rediscover her mojo at the Slams at Roland Garros where, drawing on the confidence of having claimed Olympic gold there last year, she will reach the quarterfinals at her third different major.
9. Lehecka to secure a top-16 seeding for US Open
Following his second career title on Australian soil in Brisbane leading in, Lehecka reached the second week at Melbourne Park for the second time before seventh seed Novak Djokovic comfortably had his measure.
Still the Czech departs Australia having done plenty to suggest a top-20 debut is imminent.
After missing Roland Garros and Wimbledon due to a debilitating back injury in 2024, huge points will be on offer for the 23-year-old, should his body hold up and his trajectory continue upwards, for a top-16 seeding in time for the final major of the year.
10. Andreeva to shine on grass at Wimbledon
A surprise defeat to fellow teenager Brenda Fruhvirtova at the All England Club last season was the first time in six major campaigns Mirra Andreeva failed to pass the opening hurdle.
Drawing comparisons to Martina Hingis for her court craft, the 17-year-old won’t be scarred from that blip. She thrives on the big stage and after reaching her second straight Australian Open fourth round has inched higher to world No.15, her career-best mark.
No longer in its infancy, the coaching partnership with former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez has gone from strength to strength and bodes well for Andreeva to reach her first All England Club quarterfinal.