By Alex Rhodes
The 114th edition of the Australian Open begins on Sunday in Melbourne, marking the popular start of the 2026 tennis season.
The first Grand Slam of the year will run from Sunday, January 18 to Sunday, February 1, and over 250,000 fans are expected to attend the 14-day event at Melbourne Park.
For 2026, the prize pool has increased by 16%, with a record AU$111.5million on offer to the players.
The men’s and women’s singles champions will each receive AU$4.15m while runners-up earn AU$2.15m.
Action is already underway at Melbourne Park, with qualifying rounds, exhibition matches and the introduction of the new ‘One-Point Slam’ entertaining Australian fans.
On Wednesday, amateur player and coach, Jordan Smith, claimed a remarkable AU$1m prize, defeating both Jannik Sinner and Amanda Anisimova in front of 15,000 people at the Rod Laver Arena.
Who are the favourites?
The top five seeds for the men’s and women’s singles tournaments are as follows:
Men’s seedings:
- Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
- Jannik Sinner (ITA)
- Alexander Zverev (GER)
- Novak Djokovic (SRB)
- Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)
Women’s seedings:
- Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
- Iga Swiatek (POL)
- Coco Gauff (USA)
- Amanda Anisimova (USA)
- Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
In 2025, Sinner defeated Zverev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the final to claim his third Grand Slam title, while American Madison Keys secured her maiden major championship by beating Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
The intense rivalry-turned-friendship between Alcaraz and Sinner remains one of the biggest storylines in tennis.
A repeat of the 2025 US Open final is anticipated, where the Spaniard triumphed 6-2, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
And with the world number one ranking hanging in the balance, the tournament represents a pivotal moment for both players.
Fourth seed Djokovic should also never be discounted – the 38-year-old is competing in his 81st Grand Slam, with 10 of his 24 major titles coming in Melbourne.
While he may not be the outright favourite, the Serbian remains a significant threat for the title.
In the women’s draw, world number one Sabalenka will be aiming to go one step further in 2026 and claim her third Australian Open title.
Strong challenges from the in-form Swiatek, Anisimova and Rybakina are expected to make her path difficult, though.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, 45, has been awarded a wildcard into the event, marking her first appearance in Melbourne since 2021.
She becomes the oldest woman ever to compete at the Australian Open, surpassing Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she played in 2015.
While an unlikely contender for the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, Williams is expected to be a fan favourite and will look to improve on her second-round exit in 2021.
Alongside the singles competition, doubles and wheelchair events will also feature prominently throughout the fortnight.
Home favourites Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have both withdrawn from the singles draw due to injury but will reunite in the doubles, aiming to replicate their memorable men’s doubles triumph at the tournament in 2022.
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