Australian Open Expert Picks: Who will win the first Grand Slam of 2026?

STEVE WEISSMAN

Men’s Champion and finalist: Jannik Sinner def. Carlos Alcaraz

The “New 2” continue to set themselves apart from the rest of the tour. To illustrate just how dominant they’ve been, a reminder that the 1000th-ranked man in the world is closer to Alexander Zverev at No. 3 than Zverev himself is to Sinner at No. 2. Pencil it in for four straight major finals and nine straight major titles for Sinner and Alcaraz.

Women’s Champion and finalist: Aryna Sabalenka def. Elena Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka has been the most dominant player on tour—particularly in Melbourne over the last three years. There's no reason to believe that will change in 2026. I see a rematch of the 2023 final against Elena Rybakina, who has continued the excellent form she showed at the end of last year.

Dark Horses: Joao Fonseca, Belinda Bencic

I'm paying attention to Fonseca. It's his first time being seeded at a major. After withdrawing from both his AO warm up events, I want to see if he is 100% healthy. If so, the teenager could make it to the second week of a Slam for the first time!

One the women’s side, there are so many to choose from, but I'll go with Bencic. She's back in the Top 10 and went undefeated in singles at the United Cup. I think she is poised for her best season yet!

STEPHANIE LIVAUDAIS

Men’s Champion and finalist: Alexander Zverev def. Jannik Sinner

Women’s Champion and finalist: Amanda Anisimova def. Mirra Andreeva

Dark Horses: Jakub Mensik, Karolina Muchova.

The 20-year-old Mensik is coming into Melbourne high on confidence after clinching victory in Auckland, his first ATP title since 2025 Miami, with a stellar serving performance.

Muchova kicked off the year with a semifinal run in Brisbane—taking down Elena Rybakina along the way—and then debuted a new coach in Melbourne, with Sven Groenefeld now in her corner.

JON WERTHEIM

Men’s Champion and finalist: Jannik Sinner def. Daniil Medvedev

Women’s Champion and finalist: Elena Rybakina def. Aryna Sabalenka

Dark Horses: Valentin Vacherot, Iva Jovic

Was Vacherot one of the great fluky tennis stories or is this the start of a new chapter for the Monégasque who shocked the world by winning a Masters 1000 title in Shanghai? Meanwhile, Jovic is a young American who earned a seed and reached her second career final this past week in Hobart—and she’s only getting better.

PETE BODO

Men’s Champion and finalist: Jannik Sinner def. Alexander Bublik

Women’s Champion and finalist: Amanda Anisimova def. Mirra Andreeva

Dark Horses: Frances Tiafoe, Victoria Mboko

Tiafoe has been lost in the celebrity funhouse, but he seems to have recovered his sense of purpose. Meanwhile, Mboko's strong finish after a late-season slump convinces me that she has the grit to go deep.

PAUL ANNACONE

Men’s Champion and finalist: Jannik Sinner def. Daniil Medvedev

Sinner loves Australia and has more than proven himself here, so he’s the man to beat. I’m also looking for a resurgent Medvedev to make the finals; he’s played well, already capturing a title in 2026, and he looked in good form doing so.

Women’s Champion and finalist: Aryna Sabalenka def. Amanda Anisimova

Have to go with Sabalenka. Already a victor in Brisbane, she clearly loves the conditions in Australia and appears to be in a great mental space. If Anisimova is healthy, I could see a rematch of the US Open final.

Dark Horses: Learner Tien, Iva Jovic

Although Tien has a tough matchup against countryman Marcos Giron, keep your eye on him. His sophomore season on the ATP tour will likely be challenging but he has all the tools to have a great finish anywhere he plays.

Jovic is another exciting young American. She has shown amazing improvement and is getting more and more comfortable at the top of the game.

DAVID KANE

Men’s Champion and finalist: Daniil Medvedev def. Jannik Sinner

This may be Medvedev’s last best chance to win a major title. High on confidence with plenty of momentum, the former No. 1 has never won in the same place twice, making it highly plausible he could still add Melbourne to his trophy case.

Women’s Champion and finalist: Aryna Sabalenka def. Amanda Anisimova

The foremost rivalry of the 2025 season appears poised to continue in 2026; Sabalenka has made a lightening quick start to the season and while Anisimova hasn’t been as dominant, the American has been tough to beat at major tournaments of late. With the last three titles going to Sabalenka and Madison Keys, it’s clear that the hard courts in Melbourne are rewarding the big hitters, and few hit bigger than Aryna and Amanda.

Dark Horses: Alexander Bublik, Naomi Osaka

One never knows what to expect from Alexander Bublik, but the Kazakh has displayed impressive consistency across the last 12 months—earning himself a Top 10 debut. Combine his high ranking and perennial status as tough out and Bublik could be ready to really go big at a major tournament.

Naomi Osaka nearly kickstarted her maternity leave comeback in a Grand Slam match against Iga Swiatek, and the former world No. 1 is projected to get another crack at Swiatek in the fourth round. Playing a tournament she’s won twice, Osaka hasn’t lit up the world since reaching the US Open semifinals, but she got a taste of major success last summer and could find that extra gear again in Melbourne.

STEVE TIGNOR

Men’s Champion and finalist: Jannik Sinner def. Daniil Medvedev

Sinner loves the courts, he’s won his last 14 matches here, and his coach is still with him. Even better, Carlos Alcaraz’s isn’t. On the top half of the draw, you’ve got a three-time finalist in Medvedev, who looks determined to put his calamitous 2025 behind him.

Women’s Champion: Aryna Sabalenka

The WTA’s No. 1 is a two-time champion in Melbourne. She’s started 2026 in form, while the rest of the Top 5 hasn’t.

Dark Horses: Alexander Bublik, Marta Kostyuk

Bublik won a first-week title and cracked the Top 10. How will this mercurial talent handle success this time around? As for Kostyuk, she beat three higher-ranked players in Brisbane; she’s in a good section of the draw; and she seems due for a rankings jump.