Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are anticipated to continue their rise in the tennis world throughout 2026, beginning with the Australian Open. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka enters the new season brimming with confidence after her recent successes in Grand Slam tournaments.
The tennis season will officially kick off on Friday with the mixed-gender United Cup, taking place in Perth and Sydney. This event is set to feature top players including Iga Swiatek, the women’s world number two, and Alexander Zverev, the men’s world number three.
Sabalenka, ranked first globally, aims to secure her third title at Melbourne Park, starting her campaign at the Brisbane International from January 4-11. She will compete in a talented field, which includes Madison Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion, and Amanda Anisimova, ranked fourth.
Alcaraz and Sinner, affectionately dubbed “Sincaraz,” will play an exhibition match in South Korea on January 10, shortly before the Australian Open kicks off. Last season, Alcaraz managed to dethrone Sinner from the top spot in the world rankings, although Sinner claimed the ATP Finals title in Turin, securing his triumph just before the end of the year.
Sinner’s impressive year included retaining his Australian Open title and winning his first career Grand Slam at Wimbledon. Despite facing a three-month suspension due to a doping violation, he ended the season with six titles and a commendable 58-6 match record. “I feel like a better player than last year,” Sinner noted, emphasizing his growth through the previous season’s victories and setbacks.
Parallel to Sinner’s achievements, Alcaraz also had a remarkable season, finishing with a 71-9 record and winning eight titles, including the French Open and US Open. However, the Australian Open remains elusive for him, as he has yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals, having lost to Novak Djokovic in 2025. Following a surprising separation from his long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz is embarking on a new chapter in his career.
As for Djokovic, the renowned player begins what could be his final year on tour at the Adelaide International on January 12, aiming for a record-breaking 25th major title and 11th Australian Open victory. Now at 38 years old, Djokovic has found himself in a secondary role as younger stars like Sinner and Alcaraz dominate the tour. Despite reaching the semi-finals in all four major tournaments last year, he struggled to advance further.
“I can do only as much as I can do,” Djokovic reflected after his US Open exit, highlighting the growing challenge posed by rising stars. Since his last Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, he has witnessed Alcaraz and Sinner share all eight major titles.
The United Cup will showcase other notable players, including Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur, ranked five, six, and seven respectively. Daniil Medvedev and Nick Kyrgios, returning from injury, will also compete in Brisbane.
Sabalenka, the undisputed world number one after winning her second US Open and titles in Brisbane, Madrid, and Miami, is the favorite to claim her third Australian Open victory. However, strong contenders like Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina are determined to challenge her.
“The Australian Open is very special to me,” stated Sabalenka, who faced a tough loss to Keys in the 2025 final. After a recent defeat in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ against Kyrgios, she is eager to return and tackle new challenges.
In Brisbane, she will face stiff competition from Keys and other top players such as Rybakina, Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Mirra Andreeva. Meanwhile, Swiatek will lead Poland in Sydney at the United Cup, reuniting with Hubert Hurkacz to seek redemption following losses in previous finals against Team USA and Germany.
The United States team will look to Gauff and Fritz for leadership, while Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, will make her debut in the event, representing Japan. As the new season begins, the excitement around these top players is palpable, setting the stage for an exhilarating year ahead in tennis.