Roger Federer made an appearance during the event's first-ever opening ceremony (Photo: Reuters)
We have another chance to witness the elite tennis players of the world do battle on the court, as well as against the scorching sun often served up this time of the year (it is summer after all in the beautiful capital of Victoria).
The Australian Open (AO) acts as the springboard for the top players to start on the right foot and set the tone for the rest of the year. Known for its friendly atmosphere, exemplary organisation and warm hospitality, the AO was nicknamed “The Happy Slam” by former World No 1 Roger Federer.
Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas once said in an interview: “The very first time I visited Australia, I got an understanding of just how warm and nice people are there. It always has a special place in my heart visiting Australia.”
Quite a few developments and changes were made in the world of tennis last year and I feel it is going to be even an more exciting and riveting 2026 for tennis fans. Here are eight things you should know about the AO this year.
Roger’s back!
The Australian Open will introduce a new tradition with its inaugural opening ceremony on Jan 17 at Rod Laver Arena. Roger Federer, six-time AO champion, will headline with iconic greats Andre Agassi and Australian heroes Lleyton Hewitt and Patrick Rafter.
Federer commented: “Coming back to win the AO in 2017 was one of my most treasured Grand Slam memories and backing it up to win in 2018 was another dream come true in Melbourne. I can’t wait to come Down Under again to the AO and create more fantastic moments with all the Aussie fans.”
The Sinner/Alcaraz ‘duopoly’
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Two names stand out in men’s tennis today. Even if you are not into the sport, I am pretty sure you would have heard of Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (World No 1, 22 years old) and Italian Jannik Sinner (World No 2, 24 years old). In the past two years, these dynamic players have won four of the last eight Grand Slam titles each, taking their total major wins to six and four respectively. To also highlight just how dominant these two men have been, take the ATP tour world ranking points at the end of 2025. World No 2 Sinner had 11,500 points while the next closest, World No 3 Alexander Zverev had only 5,110 points. This huge gap indicates just how far they have distanced themselves from the rest of the pack.
Watch any Sinner or Alcaraz match, and you will be blown away by their aggressive style of play, fast accurate serves, powerful topspin groundstrokes, delicate drop shots and ultra-fast movements covering every inch of the court. What astounds me more than their amazing yet consistent ball-striking is that even though they are playing at such a high level, they seem to continue to make improvements in their game every single year (particularly on their serves) and raising the bar. And they also make adjustments to their game every time they lose to each other.
Their rivalry has already enchanted the tennis world, and their mutual respect for each other on and off the court, is indeed pleasant to see. Whether any player can break this “duopoly” anytime soon remains to be seen. In the meanwhile, just sit back, relax and take in tennis ball-striking at its finest. The era of “The Big Three” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic has now quickly made way for the era of “The New Two”.
Alcaraz’s coach drama
In mid-December last year, Alcaraz announced that he had parted ways with his long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero ahead of the 2026 season. Ferrero had been his coach since he was 15, and helped him achieve six Grand Slam titles. The question on everyone’s mind was “Why would anyone want to mess with this winning formula?” The world was curious, especially when Ferrero said in an interview, “I wish I could have continued”. Whatever the reason, all eyes will be on Alcaraz this year, to see how well he copes without Ferrero by his side.
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The all-time great with the most Grand Slams titles (24) and AO titles (10) returns to surprise and delight. My admiration for Djokovic goes beyond his tennis skills and many titles. I respect his incredible mental strength, and the holistic way he manages himself through his wellness practices such as yoga, meditation, intention-setting and mindfulness. At 38, the World No 4 is playing top-level tennis against many younger opponents (Djokovic is the oldest in the top 50 players in the world, and the only one in the top 10 who is in his 30s. Only four other players in the top 50 are in their 30s).
Djokovic may be more selective in his choice of tournaments but he has definitely earned the right to choose. His dedication and approach to longevity have no doubt put him where he is today. In 2024, he became the Global Ambassador and Wellness Advisor for Aman Resorts. As to whether Djokovic may win another Grand Slam, who knows? As a tennis fan who appreciates the level of dedication and motivation it takes to be among the top four players in the world, I just want to enjoy watching Djokovic do his best with his wealth of experience against players who are a decade or more younger than him.
The other contenders
Tour players acknowledge that Sinner and Alcaraz have certainly set the standard so high that they are at another level. I believe this is a good thing for the sport. This situation is “forcing” the other top players to really raise their game in so many areas (power, movement, consistency, fitness, mental strength and so on) just to try and match the two men. And you can already see the improvements in some of the top players, particularly World No 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime from Canada. He reached the US Open semi-finals last year and continued his good form into the ATP Finals where he lost to Alcaraz in the semis. The big-serving World No 9 American Taylor Fritz should do well at the AO. He reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year, losing to Alcaraz in a tightly contested match. Fritz is known for his aggressive baseline play and his work ethic. On the social side, he is known for having the popular internet influencer and model Morgan Riddle as his girlfriend.
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For Germany’s Zverev, who has reached multiple Grand Slam finals, the cards may fall in his favour at this AO. Aussie hopes are flying high for World No 6 Alex de Minaur, who reached his first ATP finals last year. Nicknamed “The Demon” (for his explosive movements around the court), de Minaur has played more offensively and introduced more power to his groundstrokes to counter his fellow top-ranked players. The home-crowd support should provide him with more energy and motivation in his matches. Other players to watch out for are American Ben Shelton (World No 8) with his lefty big serve and Great Britain’s Jack Draper (World No 11), another lethal leftie with an aggressive all-round game. They could cause a stir at the AO as no one likes to play an in-form leftie. Their serves, shots (and spin) just come off different and can be hard to manage, even for the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz.
Wawrinka’s last dance
In December, “the other” famous Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka announced that he has finally called time on his career and will give a final push before retiring at the end of this year. “Every book needs an ending. It’s time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour,” he wrote on Instagram.
Competing in the era of The Big Three, “Stan the Man” managed to win three Glam Slam titles: the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open. He also won 16 ATP titles and had a career-high world ranking of three. With fellow Swiss Federer, he won Olympic doubles gold in 2008, and he helped Switzerland win its maiden Davis Cup title in 2014.
Possessing what many regard as one of the greatest one-handed backhands in the game, he used it to great effect, often bewildering opponents with its pace and accuracy. Stan the Man will be missed (and another one-handed backhand player bites the dust).
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On the women’s side of the draw, it would be a bit of a challenge for the betting man. Over the last 10 years, there have been eight different women’s champions in Australia (Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and current World No 1 Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka have each won twice). Sabalenka and Polish World No 2 Iga Świątek performed consistently well last year, with Sabalenka wining the US Open and Świątek clinching Wimbledon. However, the women’s field overall is very strong with many players possessing enough fire-power and ball-striking ability to go deep in the tournament. Last year’s AO winner, American Madison Keys, was ranked World No 19 heading into AO 2025.
American World No 3 Amanda Anisimova reached two Grand Slam finals last year (Wimbledon and US Open) and has impressed with her aggressive style of play and backhand winners. It is hard to believe that she was ranked World No 359 in 2023. Her compatriot, two-time Grand Slam winner and World No 4 American Coco Gauff is only 21 years old and has steadily been improving her form and ranking since bursting onto the tennis scene as a 15 year old in 2019, memorably beating former World No 1 Venus Williams at Wimbledon that year.
Wimbledon 2022 winner and World No 5 Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan won the 2025 WTA Finals undefeated, famously winning US$5.2 million in prize money. Rybakina, who hits the ball with seemingly effortless power and has a powerful serve, poses a threat every time she enters a tennis court. Americans Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys, World No 6 and World No 7 respectively, join Coco in leading the charge. I also like the chances of Italian World No 8 Jasmine Paolini and Russian World No 9 Mirra Andreeva, who is the only teenager in the top 10 at 18 years old.
New year, same champion?
Sinner won his first major Grand Slam title, the 2024 Australian Open, and repeated the feat the following year. Given his immense talent and recent form (he won the ATP Finals last November without dropping a set), he could very well end up with the AO title again. As for the women’s side, although World No 1 Sabalenka is a strong favourite, I feel the likes of Rybakina or Anisimova could break through.
Enjoy AO 2026, it promises to be an incredible two weeks of scintillating tennis.
Championship predictions
Five Malaysian tennis fans weigh in on the 2026 season
“Jannik Sinner’s journey truly resonated with me. After the heartbreak of losing three match points to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open 2025, his resilience in bouncing back to claim his maiden Wimbledon title was deeply inspirational on a personal level. I haven’t yet had the chance to attend the Australian Open, but as a sports enthusiast, experiencing the electric atmosphere of Melbourne is very much on my wish list.”
“On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner stands out. His composure, intelligent shot selection and recent hard-court form make him a strong contender. On the women’s side, Iga Świątek looks well placed. If she adapts effectively to the faster courts, her consistency and mental resilience should carry her deep into the tournament, if not all the way.”
“I’m rooting for Novak Djokovic because he is the final remaining member of the Big Three — alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — and I’d love to see him close out his career with a bang. For many years, the Australian Open was treated as the ‘stepchild’ of the Grand Slams. When it was held in December, many top professionals skipped the tournament. Since it moved to a January slot and settled into its current home, however, the atmosphere has become nothing short of fantastic. I’d wholeheartedly recommend it to any sports fan. Each Grand Slam has its own unique character, but the Australian Open is more casual, fun and carefree. But remember: bring your sunscreen.”
Gastroenterologist and hepatologist, Prince Court Medical Centre and Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur
“Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are strong contenders. His groundstrokes are perfectly suited to hard courts, which should give him a clear edge. Sabalenka, meanwhile, looks nearly unbeatable with her sheer power game. The only player who might pose a real challenge is Amanda Anisimova, whose own heavy groundstrokes could trouble Sabalenka.”
“Maybe for the women’s, Elena Rybakina. After her coaching drama over the past couple of years, it’d be nice to see her back in top form and moving deep into the draw. For the men, Carlos Alcaraz. After his recent split with his long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, all eyes will be on him in delivering on his career Golden Slam, as the Australian Open still eludes him.
The first time I went to the tournament was when I was a university student in Melbourne and, since then, I’ve been back at least three times over the years. The Aussie Open is a really immersive experience. You don’t just watch matches — you can walk the grounds and see your favourite players practising up close. The entire Melbourne Park turns into a giant tennis playground with entertainment and a great shopping experience. I totally recommend that fans experience it at least once to appreciate the extremely high level of play by these professionals. Watching on TV doesn’t really convey the speed, spin and athleticism of the top-ranked players.”
This article first appeared on Jan 19, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
