Djokovic, a 10-time AO champion, enters as world No.4 after reaching all four major semifinals in 2025, making him the oldest man in the Open era to achieve this feat in one season.
The notable absentee from the men’s field is world No.15 Holger Rune, who continues to rehabilitate a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Sabalenka will be joined in the women’s field by defending champion Madison Keys, world No.2 Iga Swiatek – who is targeting a career Slam in Melbourne after her 2025 Wimbledon victory – and reigning Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff, who beat Sabalenka in the French final.
World No.64 Danielle Collins and 76th-ranked Ons Jabeur, the latter currently on maternity leave, will miss the tournament, while former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova, China’s Wang Yafan and rising Thai talent Mananchaya Sawangkaew have entered using protected rankings.
Four men – Chinese stars Shang Juncheng and Zhang Zhizhen, Finn Emil Ruusuvuori and Australian favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis – have entered the tournament using protected rankings.
That makes Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante the last direct acceptance, the world No.101 at the time of the 17 November rankings on which men’s entries are based. Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean is the last direct acceptance into the women’s field, ranked 103rd at the time of the 8 December entry deadline.