The 2025 main season got here to an finish final week in New York. It is because Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz claimed the US Open Trophy.
It was a memorable season on the slum this 12 months. 4 ladies introduced dwelling the titles – Madison Keys (Australia Open), CocoGough (French Open), Igas Swieightuk (Wimbledon), Sabalenka and the American ladies all reached the finals. On the lads’s facet, issues had been simpler as Alcaraz (who additionally gained the French Open) and Giannique Sinner (Australian Open and Wimbledon) cut up the title. The sinner reached the ultimate in all of the slams, and he confronted Alkaraz with three.
Keys was their solely first champion in 2025. Alexander Zverev was a lonely man who had not been named Alkaraz or sinners who reached the main finals.
However whereas Sabalenka and Alcaraz should still be celebrating the newest {hardware} of their rising assortment, this 12 months stays to see numerous tennis within the Asian swing and WTA and ATP Finals, it is time to look forward till 2026.
It is a troublesome process to foretell slams subsequent season, however that does not cease us from making an attempt. Who’re the highest candidates for every main in 2026?
Australia’s opening
Date: January 18th – February 1st
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Defending Champion: Keys and Sinners
High feminine candidates: Sabalenka, Gouf, Swaitek, Naomi Osaka
Sabalenka arrives in Melbourne and is about to regain her trophy, supported by her newest US Open title. Two-time champion within the occasion, Sabalenka was extraordinarily crowded with the elusive three-peat earlier than dropping to the Keys on this 12 months’s closing. She desires to win her fifth slam title in one among her favourite surfaces and one among her favourite tournaments.
After a tricky four-round defeat in New York, as he struggled to repair the current serving calamity in New York, Gauff ought to enter the New Yr with these points behind her after spending dedication with Gavin Macmillan, a biomechanics skilled employed to do it. One of many hardest folks to beat the arduous court docket when she’s at her finest, Gauff reached the 2024 semi-finals and quarter-finals this 12 months in Melbourne.
Swiatek additionally recalled everybody how good they might be on the floor with a victory this 12 months at Cincinnati and the quarterfinals on the US Open and New York. She is a two-time semifinalist, together with 2025, and is about to finish her profession grand slam in Australia.
And naturally there may be Osaka. The 4 main champions, together with two on the Australian Open, made a comeback this summer season, showing of their closing run on the Canada Open and of their semi-finals in New York. She’s again to No. 14 within the rankings – her finest present since coming back from maternity depart in early 2024 – and trying to deliver her comeback down even additional.
Greatest Probabilities for First Slam Champion: Jessica Pegura, Amanda Anisimoba, Ivajovic
Australia’s three-time open quarter finalist, Pegra arrived on the 2024 US Open Finals and took the semi-finals this 12 months in New York. She beat the highest candidate on the floor earlier than – why is the best stakes in Melbourne?
Anisimova reached the main finals in consecutive Wimbledon, recording an extremely spectacular victory at US Open. She has these experiences below her belt, so the slam title feels extra like “when” than “if”.
And whereas definitely like an extended shot, would anybody be completely shocked to see Jovic working deep or working via a desk in Australia? The 17-year-old, the 2024 Australian Open Junior Champion, gained his first title of his profession on Sunday on the 500-level Guadalajara Open. She grew to become the youngest champion on the tour this season and is now within the high 40 within the rankings. In recent times, now we have seen surprising winners.
High Males’s Candidates: Crime, Alkaraz, Novak Djokovic
Now, earlier than we leap right here, we have to state the apparent. The sinner and Alcaraz will change into clear favourites of all main issues sooner or later within the close to future. The 2 have paired collectively to win all of the slam titles over the previous two seasons, and it is arduous to see them change anytime quickly. The 24-time main champion Djokovic, regardless of being 38, is his subsequent finest hope, with a substantial hole between him and the remainder of the sector. Anyway, for now.
What the 24-year-old sinner and 22-year-old Alkaraz did, and Djokovic, who has reached the semi-finals in all majors this 12 months, will not be a really attention-grabbing prediction.
Thinner is Australia’s two-time Open Championship. Can he be the primary man to win three consecutive occasions since Djokovic? in fact! He may positively change into a favourite to take part within the match, and can possible be.
Nonetheless, Alcaraz, like Swiatek, is about to finish a profession grand slam and win his first Australian open title. He’s at present primary on this planet and with the US Open and Cincinnati title, he seems to have closed the hole between the sinner and the arduous court docket, nearly definitely outperforming his earlier finest leads to the quarterfinals.
Djokovic is Australia’s 10-time champion, who lately gained in 2023 and continues his quest to interrupt the record-highest report in most main titles. However even he has admitted the problem towards the brand new Massive 2.
Greatest probabilities for first time slam champions: Ben Shelton and Zverev
The 22-year-old Shelton seems to have nearly as good an opportunity as anybody challenges Alkaraz and sinners within the majors, and he definitely managed to do it on his most popular floor. At present sixth on this planet, he reached the semi-finals this season, successful the Canadian Open in August. Assuming his shoulders are wholesome, he needed to retire from his third sport on the US Open – he could have what he must shock the world.
Zverev reached the 2025 closing and is a three-time main finalist. After falling by a sinner in Melbourne final 12 months, he stated he does not know if he’ll win the Slam trophy. Since then he has arrived at his Paris quarters, misplaced within the first spherical at Wimbledon and despatched packing within the third spherical of the US Open. Maybe Melbourne could be the place he turns it throughout.
French Open
Date and Time: Might twenty fourth – June seventh
Location: Paris, France
Defending Champion:
High feminine candidates: Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka
Swiatek is a four-time champion for Roland Garros and was an amazing favourite to win the 2025 title earlier than being shocked by Sabalenka within the semi-finals. Regardless of the stumbling of this 12 months, and even due to it, Swiatek is more likely to change into a favourite once more in Paris, and he or she decides to return to her “Queen of Clay” standing.
However Gauff definitely proves how gifted she is on the floor. She reached the finals in each Madrid and Rome, resulting in the French Open, on the lookout for her first consecutive main titles.
Sabalenka, who misplaced within the closing, reveals that he can revenge a three-set defeat within the championship match and win on a pure floor.
Greatest Probabilities for First Slam Champion: Mira Andriva, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen
18-year-old Andreva reached the 2024 semi-finals in Paris, showing within the quarter-finals this season (and reached the doubles semi-finals). The champions in two 1000-level tournaments this season are prepared for her large breakthrough, and the title feels inevitable. How about this 12 months?
Parini, a finalist on the 2024 French Open (and Wimbledon), didn’t match her success in 2025, however gained the doubles title in Paris and the trophy within the dwelling match at Clay in Rome. She stays the dominant pressure on the floor, each single and double. And Zheng, who claimed 2024 Olympic Gold at Roland Garros, has been on the sidelines since Wimbledon with an elbow damage and subsequent surgical procedure, however is predicted to return later this month.
High Males’s Candidates: Alkaraz, Sinner, Djokovic
Are these once more? These three once more. In 2025, two-time defending champion Alcaraz fought for the title towards Thinner within the Last Prompt Traditional, which lasted 5 hours and 29 minutes. Many tennis followers are most likely on the lookout for a rematch – and so they definitely can get it. Alkaraz has a bonus over clay, however for the reason that sinner solely returned from the three-month suspension in Might, he’ll change into an much more formidable enemy on its floor in 2026.
Djokovic is Roland Garros’ three-time champion, and his newest title got here in 2023. He misplaced one set on his approach to the 2025 semi-finals, then 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
Greatest Probabilities for First Slam Champion: Lorenzomsetti, Zverev, Holgaloon
It was a powerful 2025 for the clay Musetti. He reached the semi-finals in Paris for the primary time, successful the opening set towards Alcaraz earlier than retiring with an damage within the fourth set. He additionally reached the finals on the 1000 stage Monte Carlo Masters occasion, reaching the semi-finals in each Madrid and Rome. At simply 23, it is arduous to consider he’ll proceed to enhance in 2026 and won’t be much more empowering.
2024 finalist Zverev gained a 500-level title in Munich in April, reaching greater than the quarterfinals in seven appearances at French Open. It is one among his finest tournaments and if he’ll win one, it would work very nicely. The 22-year-old Rune was as soon as regarded as in the identical class as Alkaraz and the sinner, however had no equal success. Nonetheless, he had a few of the strongest reveals in Clay – successful this 12 months’s Barcelona title within the closing, successful the finals, and successful two quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
Wimbledon
Date and Time: June twenty ninth – July twelfth
Location: London, UK
Defending Champions: Swiatek and Sinner
High feminine candidates: Swiatek, Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina
Along with her often lengthy clay seasons restricted her expertise in grass, few folks anticipated Swiatek to wind up the trophy on the All-England Membership. However after a barely early exit at Roland Garros, Swiatek turned her eyesight into the grass – and it paid off. Candy, who performed in three main attracts on the floor just a few years in the past exterior of Wimbledon, reached the ultimate in Unhealthy Homburg throughout the lead-in occasion and dominated at Wimbledon. She had by no means made it previous the quarter earlier than, however she gained the title with unimaginable performances, together with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Anishimoba within the finals. She confessed that she wasn’t certain she may do it once more at Wimbledon after successful, however the best way her sport got here collectively in Grass, she is likely to be her favourite subsequent 12 months.
Sabalenka, a three-time semi-finalist, was devastated by Anishimoba within the semi-finals, however vowed that she would return stronger. Wimbledon is the one main she hasn’t reached the finals and can do the whole lot she will to alter that in 2026.
2022 champion Rivakina has travelled up and down at All England Golf equipment and elsewhere since her victory. She arrived within the 2024 semi-finals, the 2023 semi-finals, and was upset within the third spherical of this 12 months. Nonetheless, she has all the time been a face-to-face candidate and is aware of what it takes to win in a celebratory venue.
Greatest probabilities for first slam champions: Anishimova, Andreva
Anishimova held her nerves confidently throughout an important factors of her tense encounter in her first six matches on the All England Membership this 12 months, particularly within the 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 semi-finals towards Sabalenka. He additionally reached the ultimate at Queen’s Membership in June – her first grass court docket closing – Anishimova reveals that she has what she wants on the floor. The ultimate was not precisely one of the best, however due to her elegant speech and perspective after the biased loss, she ought to change into a fan favourite in 2026.
Andreva, who reached the fourth spherical in her Wimbledon debut in 2023, reached the quarterfinals this 12 months, delivering one of the best outcomes. She fell in two tiebreaks with Belinda Bensik and missed progress in the direction of the semi-finals, however the elevated expertise of shut moments solely helps her get on the highway.
High Males’s Candidates: Alkaraz, Sinner, Djokovic
Alkaraz gained the title in 2023 and 2024 – beating Djokovic in each finals – and regarded nicely in the direction of three-peat earlier than Thinner may spoil him within the finals. The sinner who misplaced the primary set got here again to win in 4 units: 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. He was the one sinner misplaced on the All England Membership this 12 months.
Alcaraz walked away as runner-up, however he nonetheless owns a ridiculous 35-4 profession report in grass and is a four-time champion, together with the 2025 Queens Membership occasion in June. The loss to the sinner marked his first defeat within the ostensible closing.
Djokovic is the seven-time Wimbledon champion. He misplaced to a sinner within the semi-finals this 12 months in straight units, however it feels just like the match stays his finest probability of breaking the report, however will probably be harder in 2026.
Greatest Probabilities for First Slam Champion: Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper
A longtime chief of American males, he typically thought up one of the best hopes to snap the huge drought of twenty-two years now. Fritz is approaching. He arrived on the 2024 US Open Finals and recorded his first semifinals at All England Membership after two quarterfinals this 12 months. Fritz is the five-time Grass champion, together with successful the title in Eastbourne (fourth within the occasion) and Stuttgart. He is closest to New York’s main titles, however Grass could also be his finest floor – and he has the expertise of backing up it and leaving one or two of maybe stunning victories.
And naturally, do not depend the house’s favourite, Draper. There’s nothing the gang desires to see extra. He closed the 2025 season early attributable to an arm damage, however ought to return in time for the 2026 begin. Though he by no means made any progress previous the second spherical at Wimbledon, he made the semi-finals on the 2024 US Open and considerably profitable in his closing look in 2024 within the 2024 semi-finals at Stuttgart and Queens Membership.
We’re open
Time: August thirtieth – September thirteenth
Location: New York
Defending Champions: Sabalenka and Alkaraz
High feminine candidates: Sabalenka, Gouf, Swaitek, Osaka
The tip of the season is all the time difficult as gamers typically combat fatigue, motivation and accidents, however top-ranked ladies ought to stay their favorites on the final slam of the 12 months.
Sabalenka is at present a two-time defending champion and has gained the New York crowd. She is assured and cozy within the match, ensuring this 3-peat alternative does not go and not using a critical combat.
Gauff, the 2023 champion, will need to show his exit for this 12 months’s 4 rounds. Final 12 months it was Flukes. If her serving battle is behind her, she can have a great probability for everybody to win the title.
After all, 2022 champion Swiatek and 2018 and 2020 champion Osaka are additionally seeking to finish the 2026 season with a trophy. Swiatek has matched her finest since successful the quarterfinals this 12 months. It was additionally clear how significant it will make for the 27-year-old Osaka to succeed in the semi-finals this 12 months. And it is arduous to suppose that she’s not fueled that run and the sensation.
Greatest Probabilities for First Slam Champion: Anima, Residents Carolina, Victoria
After a run at Wimbledon, Anishimoba adopted swimsuit to the ultimate on the US Open. And revenged candy losses in 1 / 4 of the quarter with 6-4, 6-3 crucial trend. She then defeated Osaka within the semi-finals in a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), and 6-3 battle. She could not discover the identical stage towards Sabalenka within the 6-3, 7-6(3) finals, however her courageous efforts within the second set to pressure a tiebreak confirmed her progress and psychological fortitude. Profitable the 2026 title will full her final comeback after a break from sports activities in 2023.
Muchova is a two-time US Open semifinalist and has arrived on the lodging this 12 months. She was the 2023 French Open runner-up and is all the time within the combine, even when she is hampered by accidents or durations of inactivity. Her versatile video games and pure athleticism compete wherever she goes.
Mboko, 19, had a disappointing first spherical exit on the US Open this 12 months, however her unimaginable efficiency on the Canadian Open, the place she gained the title, has change into a reputation to recollect. She began a 12 months ranked exterior the highest 300 and is now twenty third, solely getting higher. Anticipate a Canadian’s breakthrough efficiency in 2026.
High Males’s Candidates: Alkaraz, Sinner, Djokovic
Each the 2022 champion Alkaraz and the sinner defending champion dominated their very own runs into the ultimate in New York.
Alcaraz and his consistently enhancing serve didn’t drop the set, and he misplaced two service video games. He defeated Djokovic 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 within the semi-finals. The Sinner was pushed twice in 4 units, however it did not look like in hassle. Alexander Babrik, the quantity 23 seed of the match, in contrast him to the AI after dropping 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 within the fourth spherical.
Alcaraz overwhelmed the sinners for many of the finals, dropping one set and one service sport, claiming the title.
Djokovic is the four-time winner in New York. It is arduous to foretell how he might be fare at this stage subsequent 12 months, or what he’ll say about his future within the sport, however you may think about him giving the whole lot he has.
Greatest Probabilities for First Slam Champion: Shelton, Fritz, Draper, Felix Auger Aria Sim
Shelton was liked by the American crowd for his large sport and even higher service and showmanship, reaching the 2023 semi-finals, and plenty of believed that he may match it this season earlier than his damage. This can be one of the best probability for anybody aside from Massive 2 to win an enormous trophy in 2026, as he has confirmed how good he’s on the arduous court docket and the way a lot he’ll thrive together with the gang behind him.
Excluded from his closing look for 2 years, Fritz is making an attempt to get it completed in locations he is aware of nicely. Auger Aliasime, a 25-year-old Canadian, misplaced his first set to the sinner within the semi-finals and fought again after he ended up falling in 4 units. Auger Ariasime, the winner of two 2025 titles on the floor, is much more assured within the new season.
