The stage is set for a thrilling start to the 2026 tennis season as the Australian Open main draw approaches. With the first Grand Slam of the year just days away, all eyes are on Melbourne Park where historic achievements and fierce rivalries are set to unfold.
Top Seeds and Historic Pursuits
Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka lead the men's and women's fields as the top seeds, respectively. They are closely followed by second seeds Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek. The tournament presents a monumental opportunity for several stars. Alcaraz is bidding for his first Australian Open crown; a victory would see him become the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam.
Similarly, Iga Swiatek is just one Melbourne title away from achieving the same illustrious career sweep. Defending men's champion Jannik Sinner aims for a remarkable third consecutive Australian Open title, while Aryna Sabalenka seeks to reclaim the trophy she lost in a shock defeat to Madison Keys in the 2025 final.
In a historic moment, Venus Williams, aged 45, is set to become the oldest woman ever to compete in the Australian Open main draw after accepting a wildcard. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion adds a legendary presence to the event.
Draw Details and Key Information
The all-important draw ceremony is scheduled for Thursday 15 January at 2:30pm local time (3:30am UK time). This will finalise the path to glory for all 128 players in each singles draw. The final round of qualifying also concludes on the same day.
Eight wildcards and 16 qualifiers will complete each field. The confirmed women's wildcards include Venus Williams, Australia's Taylah Preston, and Priscilla Hon. The men's wildcards feature Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka and home favourites Jordan Thompson and Chris O'Connell.
Players and Storylines to Watch
Novak Djokovic, the record ten-time champion, is seeded fourth. His projected quarter-final clash will be a major focal point, as it precedes a potential semi-final against either Alcaraz or Sinner. Dangerous floaters lurk throughout the draw. On the women's side, former champions like Naomi Osaka (seeded 16th) and unseeded threats such as Marketa Vondrousova and Barbora Krejcikova could disrupt the favourites early.
For British fans, Emma Raducanu enters as the 28th seed, guaranteeing she avoids another seeded player until at least the third round. Her hopes will hinge on avoiding a top-eight seed like Sabalenka or Swiatek in the early knockout stages.
On the men's side, young talents like Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien, a year on from their breakout runs, pose a tricky test for the established elite. The return from injury of Grigor Dimitrov and Hubert Hurkacz also adds intrigue as they aim to rediscover their best form.
With the draw promising dramatic match-ups from the very first round, the 2026 Australian Open is poised to deliver two weeks of unforgettable tennis drama in Melbourne.
