Aus Open 2026 Preview: Women’s Draw is more interesting than the Men’s

Ollie’s Takes returns to preview the Australian Open 2026. It’s been a bit of time between articles, your boy’s been busy, but we’re back and there’s no better time than the Happy Slam.

The Men’s and Women’s draws feels like a contrast between inevitability and potential. On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (Sincaraz) were comfortably ahead of the pack in the last two years winning the last eight grand slams. On the women’s side, the draw feels far more open, volatile and therefore… a bit more interesting.

Keep reading for champion predictions, dark horses, fun first round matches and the best of the youth. We are so back.

Men’s Preview

Jannik Sinner is looking to go back to back to back and is the benchmark for consistency in men’s tennis right now. He just always seems so stable both mentally and with his tennis game. He even looked calm when landing in the Italian alps via helicopter in the off season.

Carlos Alcaraz (pictured above as Crown Hotel doorman) is looking to become the youngest man ever to complete the career Grand Slam at the ripe old age of 22 (what am I doing with my life). Alcaraz’s best tennis feels unmatched, even by Sinner. However after splitting with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero in the off season for an unknown reason (let me know your conspiracy theories in the comments), there’s a bit of uncertainty surrounding the Spaniard heading into the first slam of the season

Below them sits a cluster of players potentially capable of making Sincaraz’s life uncomfortable.

Novak Djokovic can never be written off in Melbourne. The record speaks for itself as a 10-time Aussie Open Champion. But this feels like the first year where the Djoker aura alone may not be enough - he’ll need his body to hold up deep into the second week to truly contend. Having made the semi final in every grand slam last year, it seems like an unexpected loss to Sinner and Alcaraz will be the only avenue for the Djoker to make it 25 slams.

Daniil Medvedev in my opinion is the most dangerous disruptor. He’s reached multiple finals here, understands the conditions better than almost anyone, and thrives in long, grinding matches. If the draw opens, Medvedev could capitalise, particularly given his form in winning in Brisbane last week. He had a useless 2025 season so I am not 100% confident in this take…

Alexander Zverev  and Taylor Fritz, I simply don’t trust to win a grand slam so write them off. They might go deep but it’s all for show. I also have to mention my man Ben Shelton who owes his career to three young lads who supported him from day 1. His serve can always cause some damage and if he’s just been practising his backhand returns in the off season, he could be tough to beat.

The Demon comes into the Open as Australia’s highest men’s seed in 20 years after a very consistent 2025. Alex, like most, has struggled against Sincaraz and has aimed to bulk up in the offseason. He has a broadcaster’s dream quarter final with Alcaraz set up if he can get through his very difficult draw which starts in round 1 against the Italian Stallion, Matteo Berrettini.

Ollie’s Take #1: The Men’s Champion will be Jannik Sinner. Given the 2025 Grand Slam winners went Sinner, Alcaraz, Sinner, Alcaraz, it’s now Jannik’s turn. Combined with Alcaraz losing Juan Carlos as coach, I backing the Italian to go back to back to back.

Ollie’s Take #2: Medvedev is one to watch. The Russian is serving well and seems to me like the only one that could take down Alcaraz or Sinner. Whether he is capable of beating both, I’m not too sure.

Women’s Preview

This is where the tournament opens up…

Aryna Sabalenka deserves favourite status. She’s the defending champion, started the year well and typically has too much power for anyone she comes up against. In recent years, the only thing that has stopped Aryna is herself.

But behind her sits a far more fluid group of contenders than the men’s.

Amanda Anisimova is the player I keep coming back to. She has the ball-striking ability, the confidence to take risks at big moments, and enough recent form to believe this could be her fortnight.  Having made the last two slams, Anisimova is looking to make it third time lucky in Melbourne.

Belinda Bencic is the sleeper threat. Her United Cup run showed how dangerous she is when match-fit, beating Swiatek just last week. She has always struggled to go deep in grand slams but maybe this year will be different…

Iga Swiatek remains one of the most reliable performers on tour, but Melbourne has never fully felt like her home. Like Alcaraz, Iga is looking to complete her career grand slam at the age of 24 - again, what am I doing with my life.

Coco Gauff will always be dangerous as well as Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka who all have weapons to go deep, but each carry question marks.

That’s why this draw feels exciting - there’s no single inevitability.

Ollie’s Take #3: The Women’s Champion will be Amanda Anisimova. I think she will have learnt a hell of a lot from her first two grand slam finals, and really proved in the US Open Final that she belongs on the big stage. She has a winning head to head with Sabalenka so my pick is Anisimova to win her first grand slam in Melbourne

Ollie’s Take #4: One to Watch is Belinda Bencic. Outside of Swiatek, Anisimova and Gauff (the usual disrupters), bencic’s form and composure positions her well to cause mayhem in Melbourne.

Young Talent Takes

On the men’s side - Joao Fonseca became a crowd favourite last year, dispatching Andrew Rublev at the ripe age of 18. He is fearless and despite his inconsistency (expected at a young age), he has the weapons to cause chaos. Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (19 from Norway) is quiet but comfortable all over the court and could easily surprise a few. Rei Sakamoto, 19 from Japan,  was a junior Australian Open champion. He has a huge serve, and could be dangerous .

Mirra Andreeva who needs no introduction but I’ll give you one anyway… 18 years from Russia is already top 10, WTA 1000 winner and last year’s semi finalist. Victoria Mboko 19 from Canada is hitting her stride with finals in the lead-up events and a baseline game that can cause early upsets. Emerson Jones, 17 from Australia is a wildcard and former junior number one. She’s already making noise on tour and just landed the cover of Vogue Australia - Our rising sensation, pictured above.

Ollie’s Take #5: Fonseca is the men’s breakout to watch, Kjaer and Sakamoto are the dark horses, Andreeva will go deep with Jones and Mboko ones to watch for many years to come.

Broader Take on the state of the men’s and women’s game

The men’s tournament risks being top-heavy. When Sinner and Alcaraz are this far ahead, the tournament up until the final can feel procedural. You must look for the good matches in the first week which I will do for you shortly.

The women’s draw, on the other hand, feels deeper and more unpredictable. There are more believable paths, and more players capable of catching fire over two weeks to dethrone the top few. That uncertainty is what makes a Slam compelling from day one.

Ollie’s Take #6: Right now, women’s draw looks more interesting than the men’s.

Ollie’s Take #7 on the Best First Round Matches to Watch

Starting with the men…

• Alex de Minaur vs Matteo Berrettini - Aussie favourite vs Wimbledon finalist. Need.

• Tristan Schoolkate vs Corentin Moutet - Ollie’s Takes ambassador vs a man who will rile up the local crowd.

• Zizou Bergs vs Hubert Hurkacz - Flip a coin, could go either way

• Alex Zverev vs Gabriel Diallo - I can sense an upset here… not the easy first round the German would have hoped for

And the more interesting women’s draw…

• Victoria Mboko vs Emerson Jones - Two of my young ones to watch battling it out including Jones, the great Aussie hope

• Belinda Bencic vs Katie Boulter - As mentioned, Bencic is in strong form but Aussie Katie is no push over

• Donna Vekic vs Mirra Andreeva - Andreeva likely gets the chocolates but if Vekic is focussed on tennis as opposed to her diamond brand, you never know.

• Barbora Krejčikova vs Diana Shnaider - If Shnaider plays well early and Krejčikova is not plagued by injury, get the popcorn ready.

• Karolina Plíšková vs Sloane Stephens - two former grand slam champions still kicking but not the players they used to be.

Special Ollie’s Take #8: One Point Slam is elite.

Check the insta for ongoing random takes throughout the tournament.

OT