The US Open may have just concluded, but eyes are already beginning to turn to the Australian Open.
It represents the next Grand Slam in the schedule, although the 2026 Australian Open doesn’t get underway until mid-January.
In Melbourne next year, Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys will be out to defend their titles on the ATP and WTA tours respectively.
The Italian defeated Alexander Zverev in the 2025 Australian Open final, while the American overcame Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka has since managed to add another US Open title to her honours list, battling past Amanda Anisimova in their New York final earlier this month.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesSix players who could challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open
She was joined in US Open success by Carlos Alcaraz, who edged past Sinner for his second Grand Slam title of 2025.
The duo shared the four major titles this season, with multiple Grand Slam champion Todd Woodbridge now sharing his verdict on which players can challenge the pair in Melbourne next year.
“Novak [Djokovic] challenges them, absolutely,” he said on The Tennis podcast. “He has just got to keep finding that resilience at his age to get back out on court.
“Taylor Fritz is playing the best tennis of his career. He has had a really solid year, can he up the ante against these guys in the best of five to be able to do that?
“[Ben Shelton]. Yes, definitely. You need the players who dynamically bust through these guys. Ben is one of those with the way he serves and hits his forehand.
“He has to tighten things up off the ground and not give a few free points here and there but he can always serve his way deep into a set, so that’s massively important.
“I am a fan of looking at someone like Joao Fonseca. He is still building for me, but he is going to challenge these guys.
“Can Alex [de Minaur] do it in Australia? We know he is just knocking on that door and he will make a breakthrough.
“All the quarters that he has made, I would love to see him challenge those guys in Australia. So I think there are plenty out there, it’s just a matter of them believing in themselves. Let’s put Zverev in that category too.
“He made the final in 2025. So many of them, though, have to be able to lose their inhibitions and the safety of their own game and what has got them to a certain point and keep adding to their repertoire. That is the difference with Sinner in a very short space of time in his young career.”
Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz Australian Open results
While US Open champion Alcaraz is certain to be a real threat in Melbourne in January, he has surprisingly yet to win the Australian Open.
The six-time Grand Slam champion has instead won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open twice each.
Jannik SinnerCarlos Alcaraz2ND2020–1ST20212NDQF20223RD4TH2023–WON2024QFWON2025QFJannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz Australian Open results
It is indeed his ATP rival Sinner who has dominated the hard-court tournament in recent times, triumphing in both 2024 and 2025.
He overcame Daniil Medvedev 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3 for his maiden Grand Slam title, and successfully defended his crown with a 6–3, 7–6(7–4), 6–3 win over Zverev.