The dedicated team of ausopen.com editors and writers will be bringing you all the latest news and features from Australian Open 2026.
But before they get too into the swing of things, they've been having a think about what might unfold over the next two weeks at the season-opening Grand Slam here at Melbourne Park.
Here's what they came up with - see if you agree with them.
Viv Christie
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
While the top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz is competing for the coveted career Grand Slam, Jannik Sinner is the two-time defending champion who brings momentum from winning three consecutive titles – including the prestigious ATP Finals – to close out his 2025 season.
And while there’s been major change in the Spaniard’s coaching set-up, Sinner returns with Darren Cahill – an Aussie no less – firmly in his corner.
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
A world No.1 in both ranking and in her hardcourt credentials, two-time champ Sabalenka is clearly the woman to beat. She’s not only won 19 of her 22 WTA titles – including the most recent in Brisbane – on this surface but lifted five of those trophies in Australia.
READ MORE: Women's draw - Sabalenka learns path to reclaim crown
Already one of the game’s most ultra-competitive players, watch for the edge that Sabalenka will bring after her three-set loss in the AO 2025 final.
Men’s outside chance: Daniil Medvedev
On the one hand, it’s a stretch to call a three-time AO finalist and former No.1 an ‘outsider’. On the other, Medvedev is no longer a top-10 player and fell to a qualifier – Learner Tien, then ranked No.121 – in the second round last summer.
With AO 2002 champ Thomas Johansson now his coach and a lead-in title banked in Brisbane, there’s a sense the Medvedev comeback story is just beginning.
Women’s outside chance: Alexandra Eala
At the same time last year, the then-No.136th-ranked Eala exited in the first round of AO qualifying. Now the 20-year-old Filipino arrives as a top-50 performer who has shown her ability to lift for a big occasion.
Watch for the dangerous lefty game that brought down Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek to reach the WTA 1000-level Miami semifinals last season.
Matt Trollope
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
Since defeat in the US Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner has lost just one match and scooped four titles (Beijing, Vienna, Paris Masters and ATP Finals) to close the 2025 season in style. At his best on hard courts and the two-time defending champion, he looks as relaxed and confident as ever.
READ: Sinner drills down on details ahead of Australian Open title defence
Plus, it would be pretty cool to see him join Novak Djokovic as the only man in the Open era to win three straight men's singles titles in Melbourne.
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
You just can't go past Sabalenka's record at the Australian Open, the most impressive stat being that she's won 41 of her past 45 sets at Melbourne Park.
With two titles (2023-2024) and narrowly missing a three-peat in 2025, expect Sabalenka to return even more motivated to prevail again, especially considering how dominant she looked in Brisbane.
Men’s outside chance: Hubert Hurkacz
What an incredible return to the court for Hurkacz, who missed the second half of 2025 due to a knee injury. Returning to action at the United Cup fitter and serving bigger than ever, the Pole outplayed top-10 foes Zverev and Fritz, as well as pushing Alex de Minaur all the way in a thriller in Sydney.
Previously a semifinalist at Wimbledon and a quarterfinalist at AO, is another deep Slam run looming?
Women’s outside chance: Marta Kostyuk
Kostyuk has always played her best tennis in Australia, ever since becoming a junior girls' champion at Melbourne Park in 2017. She returned the next year to make the third round of the women's singles as a 15-year-old qualifier and reached her first Slam quarterfinal at AO 2024.
She arrives this year following a fabulous week in Brisbane, where she beat top-10 stars Anisimova, Andreeva and Pegula in succession, without dropping a set, en-route to the final.
Jackson Mansell
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
This is the least confident I have been in picking Jannik Sinner (and I picked him in 2024 to defeat Novak Djokovic before winning his first Grand Slam). The field is more open than in previous years, and Sinner potentially has a tricky road ahead – Joao Fonseca in the third round, Ben Shelton in the quarters, and Djokovic in the semis.
However, the Italian has enough experience in the second week of Grand Slams by now to claim his third straight AO crown despite these challenges.
Women’s champion: Amanda Anisimova
I know I will have egg on my face when Aryna Sabalenka likely redeems her Australian Open 2025 defeat, but I still think that this is the Grand Slam where Anisimova is rewarded for her recent form.
The only player outside of Elena Rybakina to have really challenged Sabalenka in the last six months, I am ambitiously choosing Anisimova to win the Australian Open.
Men’s outside chance: Raphael Collignon
This guy loves playing on the Australian hard courts. Six victories in his past eight matches in Australia, including wins over Alex de Minaur and Grigor Dimitrov, show that he can handle the pace of the courts at Melbourne Park.
Collignon will have to overcome the first-round hurdle of No.5 seed Lorenzo Musetti, but the Belgian has proven that no feat is too difficult.
Women’s outside chance: Iva Jovic
With 17 wins in her past 24 hardcourt matches, Jovic is in form leading into Australian Open 2026. The draw could open up for the Hobart International finalist, with seeds Jasmine Paolini, Marta Kostyuk, and Ekaterina Alexandrova having vulnerable matches early into the tournament.
There is every chance she reaches the quarterfinals for the first time at a major.
Liam Petterson
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
In all honesty, I couldn’t decide between either half of “Sincaraz”, so I flipped a coin. It came up tails, for Sinner, so then I had to find post-hoc reasons to justify my selection. Thankfully there are plenty.
READ: Men's draw - Sinner's early tests on road to three-peat
The Italian juggernaut only lost six matches last year on his way to reaching all four Grand Slam finals and winning the season-ending ATP Finals. Oh, and, he’s won here the last two years. Another epic against the Spaniard surely awaits.
Women’s pick: Iga Swiatek
If you were to look back on Swiatek’s career after retirement and say she’s never won the Australian Open, you’d be surprised, wouldn’t you?
READ: Swiatek shuts out the noise as history beckons at AO 2026
The Pole has already won six Grand Slams at the age of 24, including a hardcourt major at Flushing Meadows. Maybe this is the year.
Outside chance: Hubert Hurkacz
It’s probably a bit premature for me to pick “Hubi” given the former world No.6 barely played last year due to surgery on a troublesome knee. But such was the grace and ostensible effortlessness he displayed in Poland’s United Cup championship run earlier this month that my hand was forced.
top of being nearly two metres tall, social media tells me the big-serving Pole is now “jacked” thanks to an intensive off-season gym programme. I certainly wouldn’t want to face him.
Outside chance: Belinda Bencic
Will I get away with this one? It does feel cheeky to nominate a top-10 player who made the final four at Wimbledon last year, though she’s never made it beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park.
But wins this month against Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini, after notching silverware in Tokyo in October, prove she’s in red-hot form.
Gillian Tan
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
I’m picking the two-time defending champion to achieve the three-peat and clinch his fifth major title. Expect the Italian world No.2 to begin on the same note that he ended his 2025 season – dropping a single set en-route to a trifecta of titles in Vienna, Paris and Turin’s Nitto ATP Finals.
He’s been formidable on the striking blue AO courts and, if the opportunity presents, will be eager to deny his biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz as the Spaniard strives to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
The world No.1 is a hot favourite to be reunited with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at the end of this fortnight. The two-time AO champion was barely troubled during her defence of the Brisbane International crown - she didn’t drop a set in a run that included a 6-3 6-3 victory over AO 2025 champion Madison Keys.
MORE: Why Aryna Sabalenka will win Australian Open 2026
Chasing a fifth major at 27 and in the prime of her career, Sabalenka has harnessed her blistering power, developed an enviable touch game and improved her mentality.
Men’s outside chance: Daniil Medvedev
After a tumultuous 2025 season in which the former world No.1 recorded just one win at Grand Slam level, Medvedev is primed for a resurgence. The 29-year-old seems to be enjoying himself on court and is benefiting from the perspective of new coaches: AO 2002 champion Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke. In October, he snapped an 882-day title drought by winning the Almaty Open and quickly added a 22nd title to his collection at the Brisbane International this month.
The 2021 US Open champion can maintain his unique track record of only winning titles in different cities by lifting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. And if successful, perhaps the three-time AO finalist can campaign for the old adage to be redefined as ‘the fourth time’s the charm.’
Women’s outside chance: Naomi Osaka
As the 16th seed, the two-time AO champion could hunt down her fifth major title, and first since 2021. The Japanese 28-year-old shines brightest on hard courts, and her journey to the US Open semifinals in September restored a level of trust in her game.
“I have high hopes for myself obviously in Melbourne,” she said at United Cup this month. If Osaka triumphs at AO 2026, she’ll make history as the first mother to win a major singles crown since Kim Clijsters achieved the feat in 2009.
CLIJSTERS: "I'm so ready for a new mum to hold a Grand Slam trophy”
Dan Imhoff
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
The weight of history to complete the career Grand Slam is upon top seed Carlos Alcaraz and while the Spaniard is a master of proving doubters wrong, history at Melbourne Park makes second seed Jannik Sinner hard to go past for a third straight Australian Open trophy.
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
Hardly going out on a limb choosing the top seed and two-time champion, but the 27-year-old is again the woman to beat after a blinding run through the Brisbane draw.
Sabalenka is also better equipped mentally than a year ago, having atoned for three straight Slam surprises in 2025 in New York.
Men’s outside chance: Daniil Medvedev
While difficult looking beyond the iron grip that Alcaraz and Sinner hold at the majors, three-time finalist and former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev looks to have turned a corner with two new coaches and a lead-in title in Brisbane. The 29-year-old could make another deep run this fortnight.
Women’s outside chance: Karolina Muchova
One of the most gifted yet injury-afflicted names all in the draw would be wary of when she’s firing, Karolina Muchova has history of doing well at Melbourne Park, having brought down top seed Ash Barty to reach the semifinals in 2021.
A Roland Garros finalist and two-time US Open semifinalist since, the Czech can beat anyone on her day.
Sophie Smith
Men’s champion: Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz looks noticeably leaner and more settled than he did this time last year, suggesting he’s moving with real intent. The coaching change perhaps hints at a few tactical surprises ahead – even if the core of his inner-circle remains unchanged.
READ: Alcaraz declares maiden AO title his main goal in 2026
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka’s power at the Brisbane International was intimidating, and rivals were openly wary of it. She seems to have sharpened the mental side of her game and has unfinished business after that shock title loss last year.
Men’s outside chance: Ben Shelton
Shelton’s serve and fearlessness is something to behold and after being “battle tested” last year he could prove dangerous in this draw with disciplined shot selection.
Women’s outside chance: Elina Svitolina
Secured an early-season title boost in Auckland, is experienced, has the tactical savvy to navigate early rounds, plus the match toughness to build momentum into the second week.
Sean A'Hearn
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
Still the best hardcourt player in the men’s game and too good not to get his third successive AO title. Plus, he appears to have made a tactical shift to add more variety to his game to combat Alcaraz’s aggression and all-court flair.
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
Still the player to beat in the women’s game, especially on hard court. Aryna learnt a lot after a few tough losses in 2025 and has started incorporating more variety in her game, which bodes well for a third AO crown.
Men's outside chance: Tommy Paul
The coolest customer on the ATP Tour, Paul had a career-best year in 2025, reaching a high of world No.8 and in the process becoming the first American man in 23 years to reach the quarterfinals of Roland Garros.
Has started the year well in Adelaide and has made the semis at the AO before, so has experience on his side.
Women's outside chance: Victoria Mboko
The 2025 WTA Newcomer of the Year just happens to be a rising Canadian teenager, who is going from strength to strength.
Winning a maiden WTA 1000 event in her home country at just 18 years old, she has already started the year strong, having a solid run in Adelaide and currently at a career-high rank of World No.17.
Lee Goodall
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
After their duopoly dominance at major level during the past two years, it’s impossible to look beyond Sinner and Alcaraz as men’s champion in two weeks.
And with question marks hanging over Alcaraz as he plays his first Grand Slam without Juan Carlos Ferrero by his side, it’s a no-brainer to lean towards the defending champ and the best player in the world on a hard court.
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
Not exactly sticking my neck out with this prediction, but as the world No.1, a two-time former champion and the most recent women’s Grand Slam winner having left with the trophy in New York last September the 27-year-old is the obvious pick.
Her preparations have gone perfectly too - she picked up a first title of the season in Brisbane without dropping a set.
Men’s outside chance: Hubert Hurkacz
It’s great to see good guy Hubi back on tour after all his injuries. Before the physical problems, he was part of the group of players just behind the very top guys, as a two-time Masters 1000 winner.
The Pole has returned looking fresh and sharp with wins over Zverev, Fritz and Griekspoor at the recent United Cup. A shoutout too for Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard who’s started his year impressively. Gio is serving bombs and his baseline game looks to have improved during the off season.
Women’s outside chance: Alex Eala
The 20-year-old made a name for herself in 2025 when she reached the semifinals at the Miami WTA 1000 event as a wildcard, beating among others Iga Swiatek along the way.
The Filipina is inexperienced at Grand Slam level but arrives on the back of a semifinal run in Auckland and at a career-high ranking of No.49. Surely it’s only a matter of time before she goes on a run at one of the majors.
Ravi Ubha
Men's champion: Jannik Sinner
Sinner didn't win the last Grand Slam in New York -- but illness leading into the tournament didn't help his cause. He seems to be fine now. That bodes well for another potential clash with Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Women's champion: Aryna Sabalenka
No women's player has consistently gone as deep at majors as Sabalenka since the end of the 2024 season, and in Melbourne, her recent record is astounding - two titles and only four sets lost since the start of 2023.
Last year's tough loss in the final to Madison Keys no doubt serves as extra motivation for the 27-year-old.
Men's outside chance: Flavio Cobolli
Winning the Davis Cup at the end of a season can spike fortunes in the next one. It happened to Fernando Verdasco (2008-09) and Novak Djokovic (2010-11), for example.
Don't be surprised if Cobolli follows suit. In the absence of Sinner, Cobolli played a leading role as Italy made it three in a row in November.
Women's outside chance: Linda Noskova
Who finished second in aces on the women's tour behind Elena Rybakina in 2025? Noskova. Her first and lone Grand Slam quarterfinal came in Melbourne in 2024 and it seems like a bigger Slam breakthrough is just around the corner (especially on hard courts).
Matt Clayton
Men's champion: Carlos Alcaraz
Assuming Jordan Smith hasn't completely dented Jannik Sinner's confidence at Rod Laver Arena, we're due an Alcaraz/Sinner AO final. I said this last year, but Alcaraz surely completes the Grand Slam set this time ... right?
Women's champion: Aryna Sabalenka
Anything else feels like being a contrarian for the sake of it.
Men's outside chance: Ben Shelton
Anyone not named Alcaraz or Sinner is a l-o-n-g shot ... so let's say Ben Shelton, because we’ll take a massive victory lap if he does ...
MORE: Why Ben Shelton will win Australian Open 2026
Women's outside chance: Naomi Osaka
Hard to call a four-time major champion a long shot, but she's not won one since 2021 and is coming off a final-four run in New York, so why not?
Kate Clark
Men’s champion: Jannik Sinner
It’s hard to see past a three-peat for the Italian given his form. He’s been tweaking his game – physically and technically – and his record in 2025, which culminated in a win over at the ATP finals in November shows no sign of letting up.
Women’s champion: Elena Rybakina
Rybakina’s game is a joy to watch – her powerful serve and groundstrokes offered up with seemingly effortless delivery.
She beat four higher seeds at the WTA Finals in November including Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka to add to her October title in Ningbo. And hard court is her favourite surface.
Men’s outside chance: Jakub Mensik
The Czech meets Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round, who he beat in November in the Davis Cup finals.
He made some good runs in the latter half of last year, following victory at the Miami Masters, where he beat Jack Draper, Taylor Fritz and Novak Djokovic for the title.
Women’s outside chance: Victoria Mboko
Mboko seems on an unstoppable course following a breakthrough season in 2025, which included a win over Coco Gauff on her way to the title in Montreal.
She subsequently lifted the trophy in Hong Kong and reached the final in Adelaide, having downed reigning AO champion Madison Keys along the way.
Fiona Welsh
Men’s champion: Carlos Alcaraz
Might be wishful thinking given Sinner's success at Rod Laver Arena but Alcaraz has the determination and motivation to take him all the way against his main rival after making the quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025.
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
It's hard to see anyone stopping Sabalenka from claiming her third AO crown. Her steely determination is only matched by her big hitting and aggressive style of play.
Men's outside chance: Alexander Zverev
After playing off in the final last year, Zverev will have the belief that he can go one better in 2026. He will need all his experience and consistency to break through for his first AO title.
Women's outside chance: Amanda Anisimova
After a breakout year making the finals of the US Open and Wimbledon, the hard-hitting world No.3 will be eager to continue her improvement and claim a Grand Slam title.
Aoife Cunningham
Men’s champion: Carlos Alcaraz
Melbourne being the only Slam silverware that Alcaraz hasn’t collected is immediately a great motivation with him coming into this years Australian Open.
His rivalry with Sinner will also be a great push as those are probably the two highest contenders for the final.
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
Coming off her win at Brisbane International, Sabalenka could be looking to collect her next piece of silverware after falling short to Madison Keys in last year's final – she definitely has that roar in her.
Men’s outside chance: Taylor Fritz
May be wishful thinking coming out of his 2025 season, he’s been competing in Slams since 2014 and played in the final at the 2024 US open, falling short to Sinner – but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have it in him now.
Women’s outside chance: Mirra Andreeva
Mirra won the final of the Adelaide International on Saturday and has a great shot at making it in this year’s Australian Open.
She’s still young and has many Slams ahead of her but it would be really great to see her come out on top this year.
Felicia Arhontissas
Men’s champion: Carlos Alcaraz
I think by now Alcaraz has well and truly had time to settle into his hardcourt form and came away victor against rival Sinner at US Open 2025 and Roland Garros, so who’s to say it can’t happen again?
Women’s champion: Aryna Sabalenka
After a year to reflect and work on herself mentally, emotionally and physically, I think Sabalenka has upped her game and might just return to AO 2026 to reclaim her title as champion after she was thwarted last year as a finalist.
Men’s outside chance: Daniil Medvedev
The former world No.1 seems to have a refreshed perspective on the sport, maybe something to do with his new coaches, which could translate into a resurgence of his prowess.
Women’s outside chance: Victoria Mboko
The teenage made a splash in 2025, winning her maiden WTA 1000 event in Montreal, taking the title in Hong Kong, and this year defeating Australian Open 2025 champion Madison Keys in the Adelaide International quarterfinals before reaching the final.