The primary Grand Slam of the 2026 tennis marketing campaign begins in Melbourne this weekend, and it needs to be mentioned that such a transparent hierarchy is uncommon.
We’re used to having a number of core gamers dominate in males’s groups, and Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz actually do this. Sinner is 32-0 in his previous 5 tournaments in opposition to gamers apart from Alcaraz, who has received six tournaments and will not flip 23 till Could. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer received the mixed championship three That is a slam at his age.
In the meantime, there are clear high gamers on the ladies’s facet as properly. Aryna Sabalenka has misplaced simply two of her final six onerous court docket slams and has reached the finals in seven of her final 10 onerous court docket slams. Whereas Iga Swiatek has been enjoying on clay courts for a number of years, Sabalenka performs on onerous courts. (Oh yeah, she beat Swiatek on clay final yr too.)
However nothing is assured for 2 weeks, and though we expect we all know how the Australian Open will finish, every match offers us a novel deal with and numerous secondary storylines. So, buckle up, alter your sleep schedule, and see the place the 2026 Australian Open takes us. Listed here are the 20 gamers most certainly to make some noise over the subsequent two weeks.
favourite
Jannik Sinner
draftkings odds: -120 | tennis summary odds:52.6%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.8 Ben Shelton (quarterfinals)
Sinner, a two-time Australian Open champion, can neutralize any level with highly effective, deep groundstrokes. He can retrieve any ball within the nook and regain his unique place in the midst of the court docket earlier than lining up his subsequent shot. He has received extra first serves than every other servebot on tour. He is mainly the reply to, “What if Andy Murray had a dominant offensive sport to match his protection?” He is solved nearly the whole lot in regards to the sport of tennis…however has misplaced seven of his final 9 matches in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner received the younger Titans’ final assembly (7-6, 7-5 on the Tour Finals in Riyadh) with a very huge serve, however Alcaraz is the one participant who can pressure him out of his comfy enjoying patterns. Sinner appears to have a barely higher draw than Alcaraz — particularly since he has received eight in a row in opposition to Shelton, possible his first top-10 opponent — however once more, all of the attracts have been pleasant to Sinner. It is only a matter of whether or not he finishes first or second.
Carlos Alcaraz
draftkings odds: +180 | tennis summary odds:33.6%
Potential first top-10 opponents: No.6 Alex de Minaur or No.10 Alexander Bublik (quarterfinals)
Alcaraz took a while to seek out his groove final yr, making it to the finals in solely one in all his first 5 tournaments. However extremely, he reached the finals in 10 of the final 11 tournaments of the yr. After successful the French Open and performing surprisingly poorly in opposition to Sinner within the Wimbledon ultimate, he took a while off, labored on a coaching block particular to Sinner, and nearly dominated Sinner within the US Open ultimate, successful in 4 units.
Alcaraz faces a minimum of a tinge of uncertainty in Melbourne. That is as a result of he is attempting to finish a profession match — he is received every of the opposite three majors twice however has but to make it previous the Australian Open quarterfinals — and since he is beginning the yr with out his longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who surprisingly parted methods with him in December.
Arina Sabalenka
draftkings odds: +185 | tennis summary odds:33.3%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.7 Jasmine Paolini (quarterfinals)
Shedding the Australian Open, the French Open ultimate and the Wimbledon semifinal, Sabalenka was coming to the top of maybe probably the most unsuccessful and nice season of all time – dominating from begin to end, however and not using a Grand Slam title that yr. However even when there was strain, she did not present it. He misplaced just one set en path to his second consecutive US Open title and ended 2025 with 63 tour wins and an awesome lead within the WTA rankings.
All the pieces went properly for Sabalenka to start out 2026. She stormed by the Brisbane area in her solely tune-up match with out dropping a set (and even reaching 5-all), and received her huge break when Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek landed in the identical quarter within the Australian Open draw. Sabalenka might should go previous Coco Gauff within the semifinals and a greater participant within the ultimate, however her probabilities of making it to the semifinals are a lot larger than anybody else’s.
they find it irresistible
Iga Swiatek
draftkings odds: +500 | tennis summary odds:10.0%
Potential first top-10 opponents: No.5 Elena Rybakina or No.10 Belinda Bencic (quarterfinals)
Swiatek was unable to catch as much as Sabalenka within the factors race final yr, having a horrible clay season by her requirements and lacking out on a finals spot (shedding to Sabalenka at Roland Garros). Nevertheless, Swiatek additionally received his first Wimbledon, successful a complete of 62 video games, though he solely dropped a complete of two video games in his final two matches.
The 2-time Australian Open semi-finalist got here simply wanting a profession slam in Melbourne to win the title. Nevertheless, Swiatek has misplaced the final two video games on this yr’s United Cup (to Gauff and Belinda Bencic) and the draw has been tough. She’s going to face two-time champion Naomi Osaka within the fourth spherical, and will face Rybakina (not named Sabalenka, however the hottest participant on tour) within the quarterfinals.
coco gauff
draftkings odds: +700 | tennis summary odds:9.9%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.8 Mila Andreeva (quarterfinals)
First issues first: The draw gods have given us the opportunity of a dream second-round matchup between Gauff and 45-year-old Venus Williams. To do this, Williams will first have to upset latest top-40 participant Olga Danilovic, however will probably be the primary time the 2 have met in six years and can recall their well-known battle at Wimbledon in 2019.
No matter who her second-round opponent is, Gauff ought to take pleasure in a stable keep in Melbourne. The 2024 semifinalist, who’s one way or the other solely 21 years outdated, had a patchy 2025 season stuffed with double faults — her double fault fee of 10.3% over the previous yr is by far the worst among the many high 50 gamers — and a excessive rating. Regardless of issues along with her serve, she received 3 wins and a couple of losses over Sabalenka and Swiatek, received her first title at Roland Garros, reached the finals of three 1000-level tournaments and received one. She is a risk in each match she performs, and already received in opposition to Swiatek in 2026 (though she additionally double faults 11.8% of the time).
Elena Rybakina
draftkings odds: +800 | tennis summary odds:12.8%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.10 Belinda Bencic (4th spherical)
Rybakina’s 2025 season attracted consideration around the globe. The 2022 Wimbledon champion (and 2023 Australian Open finalist) fell outdoors the highest 10 in April and missed out on the Grand Slam quarterfinals after parting methods along with her suspended coach after which having him reinstated. Nevertheless, she received 11 of her ultimate 12 matches of the yr, defeating 4 top-five opponents and successful the Tour Finals title in Riyadh. She might face an in depth battle with Swiatek within the quarterfinals, but when she hits her stride, she has the expertise to complete within the high three at worst.
Novak Djokovic
draftkings odds: +1600 | tennis summary odds:5.7%
Potential first top-10 opponents: No.5 Lorenzo Musetti or No.9 Taylor Fritz (quarterfinals)
For now, the 38-year-old Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open champion and 24-time main match winner, is primarily a part-time skilled. He’s additionally nearly actually the third-ranked male participant on the planet. He performed in solely 13 tournaments in 2025 and depends on his potential to play properly in attracts. In consequence, though he had a number of early withdrawals, he made it to the semifinals of the Grand Slam match 4 instances in 2025, and has a report of 27 wins and 4 losses previously six tournaments. He has misplaced 5 straight to Sinner (and 9 in a row) and was manhandled by Alcaraz within the US Open semifinals, however his potential remains to be unbelievable.
Naomi Osaka
draftkings odds: +2500 | tennis summary odds:0.6%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.2 Iga Swiatek (4th spherical)
After greater than a yr of onerous work since returning to the tour in 2024, Osaka lastly hit the gasoline pedal final summer time, reaching the ultimate in Montreal and the semifinals on the U.S. Open (beating Gauff alongside the way in which). The 2-time Australian Open champion misplaced his energy and commenced preventing sickness in 2026. Since showing on the U.S. Open, she has received simply 4 tour matches. However Osaka is again within the high 20 and her serve is again among the many sport’s elite, trailing maybe solely Rybakina.
draftkings odds: +3000 | tennis summary odds:1.7%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.6 Jessica Pegula (4th spherical)
Keys achieved a come-from-behind Rybakina in 2025. She defeated Sabalenka within the Australian Open ultimate and rose to fifth on the planet rankings with 16 consecutive wins, lastly successful her first Grand Slam title. Nevertheless, she went simply 19-14 the remainder of the season, and on account of a mixture of damage and poor kind, she didn’t win a sport after early August. A minimum of she regarded respectable in January, however because of the draw she might have to beat Pegula and Amanda Anisimova to get again to the semi-finals.
draftkings odds: +3000 | tennis summary odds:1.2%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.7 Felix Auger-Aliassime (4th spherical)
Medvedev, a three-time Australian Open finalist, received solely 65% of his matches in 2025, posting a surprising 1-4 report in Grand Slam tournaments, his worst efficiency since 2017. Nevertheless, a way of hopelessness can typically ignite a spark. Since falling out of the ATP high 15, he has received 16 of 19 matches and two tour titles. He has recovered to twelfth place and will transfer up rapidly as he has few slam factors to defend in 2026. He additionally landed within the quarter of Alexander Zverev’s draw, the quarter most certainly to advance to the semi-finals. Medvedev turns 30 in February, and it seems to be like he is discovered the shot he wants within the arm.
alexander zverev
draftkings odds: +3500 | tennis summary odds:2.4%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.7 Felix Auger-Aliassime (quarterfinals)
Zverev had an opportunity to sneak into the No. 1 rating for the primary time final spring as Alcaraz battled instability and Sinner was suspended for 3 months. As a substitute, he stumbled all through the clay court docket season and missed out on appearances. A 3-time Australian Open semifinalist (and finalist in 2025), his ultra-stable serve and torturous ball potential make him onerous to shake. Nevertheless, in 2025, that they had simply 4 wins and 11 losses in opposition to the highest 10 and 1 win and 6 losses in opposition to the highest 5. Is there something he can do to reverse this pattern?
ben shelton
DraftKings odds: +8000 | Tennis summary odds: 0.2%
First opponent with an opportunity of ending within the high 10: No. 2 Jannik Sinner (quarterfinals)
The boisterous, athletic 23-year-old, a 2025 Australian Open semifinalist, was coming off the most effective yr of his profession earlier than pulling out of the US Open within the third spherical on account of shoulder ache. It wasn’t as severe as feared, however they misplaced seven of 10 video games by the top of 2025, and are nonetheless a little bit of a thriller going into 2026. There is no such thing as a doubt in regards to the turnaround.
Others: Karolina Muchova (2021 semifinalist, +5000), Elina Svitolina (2025 quarterfinalist, +6500), Elise Mertens (2018 semifinalist, +10000), Emma Navarro (2025 quarterfinalist, +10000), Paula Badosa (2025 (2025 semifinalist, +13000), Lorenzo Sonego (2025 finalist, +13000), Karen Khachanov (2023 semifinalist, +15000), Tommy Paul (2023 semifinalist, +15000), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (2025 quarterfinalist, +15000), Stefanos Tsitsipas (2023 Sofia Kenin (2020 champion, +20000), Dayana Yastremska (2024 semifinalist, +25000), Marin Cilic (2018 quarterfinalist, +15000), 2024 finalist, +30,000), Karolina Pliskova (2019 semifinalist, +30,000), Stan Wawrinka (2024 champion, +30,000), Venus Williams (2-time finalist, +30,000), +30000), Magda Lynette (2023 semi-finalist, +50000)
Just a few breaks are required
Amanda Anisimova
draftkings odds: +900 | tennis summary odds:6.7%
Potential first top-10 opponents: No.6 Jessica Pegula or No.9 Madison Keys (quarterfinals)
Regardless of Sabalenka’s success, one might argue that Anisimova was the story of 2025. After being off the tour for many of 2023 and having an honest exhibiting in 2024, she has received 47 matches and is 4-4 in opposition to Sabalenka, Swiatek and Gauff. After struggling a humiliating 6-0, 6-0 loss to Swiatek within the Wimbledon ultimate, she defeated Swiatek to advance to the US Open ultimate. She might have the most effective backhand within the sport, and there is not any doubting her psychological dedication at this level. She has by no means made it previous the fourth spherical in Melbourne, however there aren’t any gaps in her sport to recommend she will’t.
Mila Andreeva
draftkings odds: +1600 | tennis summary odds:5.0%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.3 Coco Gauff (quarterfinals)
The 18-year-old Andreeva regarded like a future Grand Slam champion since her first skilled match, however when she received back-to-back 1000-level tournaments (Dubai and Indian Wells) in early 2025, she did not suppose it might final lengthy. Nevertheless, a downturn in kind and a lingering damage triggered her to lose six of her ultimate 10 matches of the yr. She has began 2026 properly, reaching the finals in Adelaide, and we all know what she is able to when she is in full swing.
jessica pegula
draftkings odds: +4000 | tennis summary odds:5.0%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.9 Madison Keys (4th spherical)
At all times a grinder, Pegula has been all or nothing in latest Slam tournaments. Previously two years, she has had 4 pre-fourth spherical upsets, however has reached the semifinals twice and the ultimate as soon as. She has defeated Sabalenka and Gauff in latest months, and is 3-0 in opposition to Anisimova (the highest seed within the quarter), however is that this a slam of “the whole lot” or “nothing” for the 31-year-old?
Jasmine Paolini
draftkings odds: +5000 | tennis summary odds:2.6%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.1 Aryna Sabalenka (quarterfinals)
Paolini, 30, reached two match finals in 2024, then staved off the flash-in-the-pan fever with a career-high 46 tour wins in 2025, and remained No. 7 on the planet final yr regardless of making zero match quarterfinals. However her kind hasn’t been nice, shedding 5 straight (and 10 units) in opposition to top-10 opponents and 7 of her previous 13 matches total.
taylor fritz
draftkings odds: +6000 | tennis summary odds:0.6%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.5 Lorenzo Musetti (4th spherical)
Few gamers have realized to provide outcomes and strengthen weaknesses in addition to Fritz. Nevertheless, he has misplaced three of his first 4 matches in 2026, 9 of 14 since reaching the Tokyo finals in September, and lately revealed that he’s struggling to beat nagging knee issues. If he can overcome that and set up a stable degree of play, a draw might at worst result in a spot within the quarter-finals, however that is simply an “if” at this level.
Alex de Minaur
draftkings odds: +6500 | tennis summary odds:1.0%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.10 Alexander Bublik (4th spherical)
Though he would not have the spectacular physique that lots of the high ATP gamers boast in the meanwhile, the 6-foot speedster has maximized his potential to as soon as once more attain a career-high rating of No. 6 on the planet. (He is simply 25 factors off the highest 5.) The 26-year-old Australian has reached the quarter-finals of 5 of the final seven tournaments (together with his residence match in 2025) and will advance to 6 of the eight tournaments throughout the subsequent few days. Nevertheless, his 0-18 report in opposition to Alcaraz and Sinner undoubtedly limits his potential.
Others: Marta Kostyuk (+3500), Belinda Bencic (+4000), Clara Torson (+4000), Barbora Krejcikova (+5000), Liudmila Samsonova (+5000), Leila Fernandes (+6000), Felix Auger-Aliassime (+8000), Emma Raducanu (+8000), Alexander Bublik (+10000)
2026 younger breakthrough candidates
draftkings odds: +3500 | tennis summary odds:1.0%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.1 Aryna Sabalenka (4th spherical)
After an extended reign on the ITF degree, the place she received 5 tournaments within the first three months of 2025, Mboko made the soar to the WTA full-time final yr and rapidly improved, successful matches at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and catapulting her option to the 1000-level title with wins over Gauff, Rybakina and Osaka in Montreal. Accidents and sudden expectations slowed him down a bit, however the highly effective 19-year-old ended 2025 by successful the title in Hong Kong in October, and has already booked a spot within the finals in 2026 (Adelaide). The fourth spherical might see Mboko and Sabalenka face off for the primary time. ohit might characteristic some severe energy hits.
draftkings odds: +15000 | tennis summary odds:0.2%
Potential first top-10 opponents:No.7 Felix Auger-Aliassime (third spherical)
It is no shock that Tien ended up in the identical quarter as Zverev and Medvedev. Upsets by each gamers in early 2025 propelled Tien into the highest 30. He is a big-time participant, with a 4-3 report in opposition to top-10 opponents over the previous yr. And with João Fonseca battling again points, he will be the younger participant most certainly to make a run for the boys’s group.
Others: Joao Fonseca (+10000), Linda Noskova (+10000), Iva Jovic (+15000), Tereza Valentova (+15000)
