There’s an expansive player-only food court at Australian Open 2026 with bain maries filled with everything you can think of from lean protein to pizza.
Nutrition isn’t a marginal gain that appears to be openly discussed in tennis. Google ‘nutrition’ and ‘the Australian Open’, and you’ll find endless listicles about the gastronomic stalls available to punters, from Melbourne institutions to international burger chains and Michelin-star chefs at AO Reserve.
However, in a sport where the elements and duration of matches are variable and players are serving at speeds some cars can’t reach, what you consume does contribute towards performance.
“It’s extremely important,” said men’s No.6 seed Alex de Minaur after his opening-round win against American Mackenzie McDonald on Monday.
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Retirement became somewhat of a theme on Day 2 of competition, with No.7 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and Briton Francesca Jones both forced to abandon due to cramping on a day when the mercury hit 32 degrees.
“When we’re talking about such physical conditions and such hot conditions it is essential,” De Minaur continued.
“In terms of nutrition, hydration, I started already on electrolytes last night. Midway through the afternoon I was drinking as much as I could. I made sure I had a good dinner last night. This morning was all over good breakfast, make sure I had, you know, some plain pasta before I went on. And as the match goes on, I’ve got bananas, bars, snacks.
“Ultimately the biggest thing is to not have a drop in energy.
“You need your body to be going on four three, four, even five hours, so you’ve got to be ready. Hydration and nutrition is key, especially in five-set matches here.”
The Australian’s prepared approach is a testament to his experience as he looks to progress through to the very end of what is a home Grand Slam as efficiently as possible, also using his speed to take time away from rivals.
“If the ball is coming back to your opponent quicker and quicker, it’s not really allowing him to think most of the time,” De Minaur said.
“I’ve gotten to a stage where I’m not just another number in this draw. I’m playing to win it.”
German Alexander Zverev, who finished AO 2025 as runner-up to Jannik Sinner, knows that better than most.
Diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic as a four-year-old, he has always been mindful of how nutrition and hydration can impact performance.
“A lot of doctors and specialists were suggesting that professional sports with diabetes back then was an impossible thing, but luckily for me I had a very stubborn mother, and she was basically saying, ‘If my son wants to do something, we’re going to do it, and we won’t let illness limit ourselves to certain things,’ and here I am,” Zverev recalled at a Meditronic Diabetes event at Vue de Monde.
For him, not fuelling properly isn’t just the difference between success and setback at a Grand Slam, but worst-case scenario, potentially life and death.
“Being diabetic for 24-plus years now, I know what type of food is good for me, what type of food spikes my sugar, and what type of food is stable with my sugar,” Zverev said.
“I always try to adjust towards the tournaments, because not every single tournament has the same food, but as we’ve been on tour for over 12 years now, I’ve learned how to manage it.
“I’ve learned what type of food is good for me before matches, what’s better in the morning, and what’s better in the evening. It’s a learning process.”
American Frances Tiafoe emphasises the importance of routine, rather than nutritional specifics, when asked about the most important aspects of his performance at the first Grand Slam of the season.
“To be comfortable in the stillness,” he said.
“Find a routine and not wavering from that routine. Stay locked in, stay in those moments because it’s a long two weeks. As you start going deeper and deeper, stay in the stillness. It is boring, but the reward is amazing.”
Proper preparation, as the saying goes, prevents poor performance. While talking about the gym, strokes, sleep, connecting, disconnecting, crowd engagement and mindset is more prevalent, how players fuel is also a crucial part of that.