From baseline battles to breakthrough moments, the year’s first Grand Slam gets underway in sunny Melbourne on Jan 18
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) serves as the springboard for 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. Visiting Australia always has a special place in my heart.”
Quite a few developments and changes were made in the world of tennis last year and I feel it is going to be even more exciting and riveting 2026 for fans. Here are some top things you should know about the AO this year.
Roger’s back!
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The Australian Open will introduce a new tradition with its inaugural opening ceremony on Jan 17 at Rod Laver Arena. 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.”
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Italian Jannik Sinner, famed for his rivalry with Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz / Photo: ATP
The Sinner/Alcaraz ‘duopoly’
Two names stand out in men’s tennis today. Even if you are not into tennis, 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 the two men have distanced themselves from the rest of the tennis 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 raise the bar. They also adjust their game after each loss 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 meantime, just sit back, relax and enjoy 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”.
Novak Djokovic, with the most Grand Slam titles and 10 AO titles, is still going strong and is back at the ATP / Photo: ATP
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Djokovic still going strong
The all-time great with the most Grand Slam titles (24) and 10 AO titles returns to surprise and delight. My admiration for Djokovic goes beyond his tennis skills and many titles. I admire his incredible mental strength and the holistic way he manages his wellness and longevity through practices such as yoga, meditation, intention-setting and mindfulness. At 38 years “young”, the World No 4 is playing top-level tennis against many younger opponents (Djokovic is the oldest player in the top 50 players in the world and the only player 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 tournament choices, but he has definitely earned the right to choose. His dedication to wellness and longevity has undoubtedly 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 set the standard so high that they are at another level. I believe this is beneficial 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 dating the social media influencer and model Morgan Riddle.
For World No 3, Germany’s Alexander 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 the firepower of his fellow top-ranked players. The home crowd support should give him 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,” Wawrinka 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 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).
Who are the women’s champions?
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 Swiatek performed consistently well last year, with Sabalenka winning the US Open and Swiatek clinching Wimbledon. However, the women’s field overall is very strong with many players possessing enough firepower 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 improved 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 ($6.7 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, ranked 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 2025, it promises to be an incredible two weeks of scintillating tennis.
Photo: Shutterstock
Luxury brands x Tennis
Polo Ralph Lauren returns to the AO as the Official Outfitter for the sixth consecutive year. You will see over 4,000 staff across the tournament — from ball kids to on-court officials and ground crew — wearing fresh Polo Ralph Lauren outfits, including sunglasses. RL also has a highly exclusive Hospitality Suite at the AO, offering invited guests an exquisite, glamorous dining experience with champagne and courtside access.
Louis Vuitton is the Official Trophy Trunk Partner, designing handcrafted Monogram trunks for the tournament’s legendary trophies: the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup (for women) and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup (for men). Lined with blue to honour the signature blue courts of the AO, the cases showcase the white AO logo and a “V” for Victory and Vuitton. LV also sponsors World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz and keeps him fashionably dressed off the court.
Gucci’s relationship with tennis started in the 1970s with its first tennis-inspired pieces. Italian World No 2 Jannik Sinner is the Italian fashion house’s Global Brand Ambassador and is often seen carrying its duffle bags as he makes his grand entrance at major Grand Slam events.
Lacoste has a deep connection to tennis heritage, with its founder, former top French tennis player Rene Lacoste, introducing an innovative tennis shirt with a pique cotton fabric to enhance breathability in the 1920s. The fabric remains popular among many polo shirt manufacturers today. Lacoste sponsors top men’s players, such as Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Grigor Dimitrov, and recently added emerging German talent Eva Lys, ranked in the top 40 at 23 years old, as a tennis ambassador.
Hugo Boss has Italian Matteo Berrettini and American World No 9 Taylor Fritz as its brand ambassadors, highlighting the brand’s sportswear line’s smart aesthetics with performance-driven features.
The New Balance x Miu Miu collaboration with Coco Gauff features exclusive, stylish tennis outfits and sneakers that Gauff wears during tournaments.
Burberry has appointed British World No 11 Jack Draper as its brand ambassador, calling him one of his generation’s most gifted players and representing the brand’s commitment to British excellence.
Dior selected Chinese tennis champion and 2024 Paris Olympics gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, who is also World No 24, as its brand ambassador, highlighting her resilience and pioneering spirit, which align with the brand’s values.
Tiffany & Co partnered with World No 3 Amanda Anisimova during last year’s US Open, where she wore jewellery, including bracelets, earrings and necklaces.
