Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner has learned the route he must take if he’s to hoist the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup once again at Australian Open 2026.
Thursday’s men’s singles draw ceremony unveiled a potential blockbuster semifinal between the Italian world No.2 and 10-time AO champion Novak Djokovic, while top seed Carlos Alcaraz landed in the same half as third seed Alex Zverev.
MORE: AO 2026 men's singles draw
Sinner begins his AO 2026 campaign against Hugo Gaston, a Frenchman over whom he has an unbeaten 2-0 record. If successful, a mouthwatering potential third-round battle against 28th seed Joao Fonseca beckons, as does a fourth round against 15th seed Karen Khachanov.
Sinner’s biggest rival, 22-year-old Alcaraz, arrived in Melbourne determined to become the youngest men’s player to complete a career Grand Slam.
The popular Spaniard will navigate his first match of the season against Australia’s Adam Walton, and countryman Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 14th seed, lurks in the fourth round. Australia’s Alex de Minaur – and a vocal Rod Laver Arena crowd – may await Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
As Djokovic searches for a groundbreaking 25th major, he’ll first tackle Pedro Martinez, a semifinalist in Wednesday night’s 1 Point Slam Driven by Kia. In the round of 16, the Serbian 38-year-old is slated to battle Czech 16th seed Jakub Mensik for a place in the quarterfinals, where he could meet either fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti or ninth seed Taylor Fritz.
First round matches of note
In one of the juiciest opening-round matches, AO 2025 finalist Zverev has an intriguing career-first meeting against Gabriel Diallo, a talented Canadian who nearly upset Fritz at Wimbledon last year.
Also tantalising? A battle between two left-handers in eighth seed Ben Shelton and Ugo Humbert, as well a clash between two of the most in-form players at United Cup this month: Hubert Hurkacz and Zizou Bergs.
Expect creative shotmaking as 10th seed Alexander Bublik seeks his first victory against American Jenson Brooksby, and packed stands as Grigor Dimitrov takes on Tomas Machac in his first major since injury forced the Bulgarian’s retirement from Wimbledon 2025.
Projected match-ups
A prospective second-round tussle featuring Shelton and 39-year-old Gael Monfils would be a fitting addition to the French veteran’s final AO.
Also on the menu are exciting third-round clashes between recently-crowned Next Gen ATP Finals champion Learner Tien and seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime; Shelton and Valentin Vacherot, the Frenchman seeded at a major for the first time; and Musetti against AO 2023 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, both bearers of the increasingly rare one-handed backhand.
If Musetti charts new territory by advancing to the AO quarterfinals for the first time, he could take on Fritz in what the seventh instalment of a budding rivalry that’s poised at three wins apiece.
Another unmissable potential last-eight match features Zverev against either Auger-Aliassime or Brisbane International champion and three-time AO finalist Daniil Medvedev, the 11th seed.
How the Aussies fared
De Minaur’s path to a maiden Grand Slam title starts with a tricky first round against Wimbledon 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini.
If the sixth seed progresses past either Mariano Navone or Hamad Medjedovic in the second round, he may need to defeat both 29th seed Frances Tiafoe and then Bublik to reach the quarterfinals.
From there, the local favourite may need to vanquish Alcaraz, Zverev and Sinner to lift the title.
Perth’s Tristan Schoolkate drew 32nd seed Corentin Moutet, while Alexei Popyrin tackles Alexandre Muller for the right to face the winner of Zverev and Diallo.
Rinky Hijikata tackles journeyman Adrian Mannarino, Chris O’Connell faces in-form qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy and James Duckworth meets lucky loser Dino Prizmic. Jason Kubler and Dane Sweeny, both qualifiers, will step up to the service line against Tiafoe and Monfils respectively.