From Sunday, January 18, all eyes in the tennis world will turn to Melbourne for the 2026 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year. Known affectionately as the “Happy Slam,” it will see the world’s top players compete for early-season glory. Can Jannik Sinner defend his title, or will Alexander Zverev finally achieve the breakthrough he narrowly missed last year? Here’s everything you need to know.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Dates: Sunday, January 18 – Sunday, February 1
• Location: Melbourne Park
• Surface: Hard court (GreenSet)
• ATP Points: 2,000 for the winner
• Defending Champions: Jannik Sinner (men), Aryna Sabalenka (women)

Participants: Favourites and Local Hopes

The 2026 field promises plenty of drama, featuring a clash of the top-ranked stars and the return of some familiar names.

Top Contenders:

• Jannik Sinner (World No. 2): Back-to-back champion and clear favourite.
• Carlos Alcaraz: The young Spaniard aims to complete his Grand Slam collection after defeating Sinner in a recent exhibition in South Korea.
• Novak Djokovic: The most successful player in Australian Open history with ten titles.
• Daniil Medvedev: Brisbane warm-up winner and an outside hope.
• Taylor Fritz: American contender capable of upsets.

Local Stars:
Australian fans are hoping Alex de Minaur, World No. 6 and a quarter-finalist last year, can make a deep run. Nick Kyrgios has declined a singles wildcard but may reunite with Thanasi Kokkinakis in the doubles, provided Kokkinakis’ shoulder injury heals in time. The pair, known as the “Special Ks,” won the men’s doubles in 2022, thrilling crowds on show courts.

Australian Open 2026 Schedule

• Day sessions: From 11:00–11:30am AEDT
• Night sessions: Rod Laver Arena & Margaret Court Arena, 7:00pm AEDT

Tournament Progression:

• First round to Round of 16: Jan 18 – Jan 26
• Quarter-finals: Jan 27–28
• Women’s semi-finals: Jan 29
• Men’s semi-finals: Jan 30
• Women’s final: Jan 31, 7:30pm AEDT
• Men’s final: Feb 1, 7:30pm AEDT

Prize Money and Points: Record Rewards

The 2026 Australian Open sets new records with a total prize pool of $111.5 million — a 16% increase from last year.

• Singles Champions: $4.15 million each
• Runner-up: 1,300 ATP points
• Winner: 2,000 ATP points
• First-round losers: $150,000

This makes the tournament as important for rankings as it is for glory.

Past Champions and Records

• Novak Djokovic: 10 titles – the “King of Melbourne”
• Roger Federer: 6 titles
• Jannik Sinner: Defending champion with back-to-back wins (2024, 2025)
• Stan Wawrinka: Veteran and 2014 champion
• Other notable finalists: Daniil Medvedev (3 finals), Marin Cilic

Recent Winners:

• 2025: Jannik Sinner
• 2024: Jannik Sinner
• 2023: Novak Djokovic
• 2022: Rafael Nadal
• 2021: Novak Djokovic
• 2020: Novak Djokovic