Australian Open 2026: Alcaraz v Sinner, Djokovic eyes history, Sabalenka and Swiatek go for Grand Slam glory

How quickly time flies, right?

Following another off-season interpreted by some as too brief, the initial Grand Slam of the year is on the verge of commencing.

What are the key storylines from the Australian Open to pay attention to before the action kicks off on Sunday?

This is the inquiry on everyone’s lips.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are not merely the top two players on the ATP Tour – they are competing in a league of their own.

The duo has secured the last eight major championships between them, with Italy’s Sinner aiming for a third consecutive title in Melbourne.

Sinner’s incredibly consistent baseline style complements the medium-fast hard courts exceptionally well. Conversely, the more inventive Alcaraz has struggled to adapt to the Melbourne surface and has not progressed beyond the quarter-finals here.

This, however, is attributed to a lack of rhythm at the start of the season rather than any failure to adapt.

Should the 22-year-old Spaniard get off to a running start – as he begins a new chapter without long-standing coach Juan Carlos Ferrero – he will become the youngest male athlete to achieve the career Grand Slam.

Alcaraz expressed at the conclusion of the previous season his desire to «prefer winning my first Australian Open over defending my French Open and US Open titles» in 2026.

Alcaraz isn’t the sole competitor looking to achieve a complete set of Grand Slam titles.

Similar to Alcaraz, Poland’s Iga Swiatek has six Grand Slam titles under her belt, and the Australian Open is the one title that eludes her.

The 24-year-old has already established herself as a future legend with last year’s unexpected Wimbledon victory – an achievement she herself hadn’t anticipated.

Nonetheless, losses to Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic at the opening United Cup indicate that Swiatek must resolve a few issues promptly in Melbourne.

Swiatek acknowledges that she is aware of the discussion surrounding the career Slam, but she aims to focus solely on her performance improving day by day.

«It would be a dream realized. However, it’s not my primary ambition every morning. My focus is on how I want to play and what I intend to enhance day by day,» she stated.

Gauff partners with Swiatek as part of a trio who have taken home nine of the previous 12 majors; however, it is the third member, the two-time Melbourne winner Aryna Sabalenka, who is favored to win before the tournament begins.

World number one Sabalenka prepared by clinching the Brisbane title last week, but she feels that this is of little significance.

«That’s the beauty of tennis — unpredictability,» noted the 27-year-old Belarusian, defeated by Madison Keys in last year’s Australian Open final.

«Each day you must go out and showcase your capabilities.»

The challenge of becoming a teenage sensation is that expectations can soar and, in the case of Emma Raducanu, become nearly overwhelming.

Now entering her fifth year since that unbelievable US Open victory, the 23-year-old must demonstrate her capacity to remain at the elite level of the WTA Tour.

Raducanu’s task this season revolves around bridging the gap with the elite regarding direct match results and rankings.

Last year showed positive signs, and her return to the world’s top 30 ensures she will hold a seed at the Australian Open – though a potential matchup with Sabalenka in the third round warns her of what lies ahead.

Raducanu stands among seven British players in both the men’s and women’s singles draws, and she has the highest ranking following Jack Draper’s injury-induced withdrawal.

Cameron Norrie, Jacob Fearnley, Francesca Jones, Sonay Kartal, and Katie Boulter all directly qualified, while Arthur Fery navigated through qualifying rounds.

For much of his career, Australia has felt like a second home to Novak Djokovic.

The Serb has secured 10 of his 24 Grand Slam championships on Rod Laver Arena, and many believe he is a favorite to win once again in Melbourne as he seeks to surpass Margaret Court with the all-time record of 25.

However, it’s undeniable that Father Time is drawing closer to the 38-year-old.

In the last two years, he has found it challenging to keep pace with Alcaraz and Sinner physically over five-set matches, yet he remains the player most capable of defeating them due to his technical prowess and unwavering determination.

Last season, Djokovic made it to the semi-finals in all four Grand Slam tournaments, showcasing remarkable consistency at the elite level.

It is difficult to predict what the fourth-ranked player may accomplish this year, and it would be unwise to overlook him.

Several elements have contributed to the Australian Open being marketed as the ‘Happy Slam’.

The sunlit Melbourne summer enhances dopamine levels, while the enjoyable atmosphere is further amplified by the vibrant energy around the grounds.

Renowned DJs, popular bands, trendy restaurant partnerships, and high-end beverage brands are present throughout the venue, situated in the heart of Melbourne’s central business district.

Tournament director Craig Tiley recognizes the necessity of narrowing the gap with Wimbledon, the French Open, and the US Open regarding prestige and commercial appeal.

Competitors speak highly of the event, particularly noting the superior quality of the behind-the-scenes facilities.

Nevertheless, a group of top players has expressed dissatisfaction that organizers still do not allocate a larger portion of the total revenue, despite a record prize pool of £55 million this year.

Broader issues concerning player welfare persist, and with the Australian Open’s history of facing problems related to heat and late-night matches, these issues may resurface in the coming two weeks.