26 Thoughts on the 2026 Australian Open

1 Alcaraz Career Slam 

Carlos Alcaraz’s triumph at the Australian Open is not just a storyline of the tournament, it is THE storyline. The Spaniard inserted a fresh page into tennis’ record books by becoming the youngest man to capture the Career Grand Slam and the first player under 23 to reach seven Grand Slam singles titles.

2 Rybakina Returns to Glory 

Four years after her maiden major at Wimbledon, Elena Rybakina finally reclaimed her seat on the throne. In a clinical display of power and composure, she navigated a brutal draw to remind the world that when her serve is clicking, she is the most dangerous player on any hard court.

3 Djokovic Latest Epic 

Even at 38, Novak Djokovic proved he is the ultimate “final boss” of Melbourne. His five-set semifinal victory over Jannik Sinner was a masterclass in psychological warfare and physical endurance, showing the world that the “changing of the guard” still has to go through him first.

4 One Point Madness 

The One Point Slam got the ball rolling in Melbourne with a celebration of star power, random chaos, and innovation. It ended with an amateur rising above all the legends in the draw to create a captivating moment for all who bore witness.

5 Sabalenka; Oh So Close 

Aryna Sabalenka’s quest for a third Aussie title fell agonizingly short in a three-set final thriller. Despite the loss, her consistency in Melbourne—reaching four straight finals—solidifies her status as the modern queen of the Happy Slam.

6 American Women Thrive 

Four U.S. women reached the quarterfinals—Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Iva Jovic—the most American women’s quarterfinalists at the Australian Open since five in 2001 (Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams).

7 Are We Animals?

Iga Swiatek’s quote of the day was about the lack of privacy that players endure due to ubiquitous security cameras inside the corridors of Rod Laver Arena that major networks tap for content without much consent from the player. “The question is, are we tennis players or are we animals in the zoo, where they are observed even when they poop?” she said.

8 Men’s Semi Drama

We were short on drama, with zero five-set men’s matches played on Rod Laver Arena through 12 days of tennis. Then, like magic, we had an epic day of men’s semifinals, filled with nearly ten hours of hair-raising moments. Semifinal wins by Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic’s shock takedown of Jannik Sinner will forever be a part of Aussie Open lore now.

9 Stanimal Turns Back Clock

At 40 years old, Stan Wawrinka reminded us why they call him “Stan the Man.” His trip to the third round, fueled by that trademark thunderbolt backhand, was a nostalgic gift to the fans, capped off by an emotional beer-sharing ceremony with Craig Tiley after his final match.

10 Monfils Leaves Lasting Image

Gael Monfils bid an emotional “adieu” to Melbourne Park, leaving the court for the last time to a standing ovation that lasted minutes. His final sliding forehand winner was a perfect microcosm of a career built on equal parts athleticism and entertainment.

11 Eala — and Fans — Make a Scene

Even in a bitter three-set defeat, Alexandra Eala’s first-round battle with American Alycia Parks was a win for the Philippines; it was a cultural event. The “Eala-mania” that swept through the grounds proved that Southeast Asia is a sleeping giant in the world of tennis fandom. And the best is yet to come.

12 Mboko Rising

Canadian teen Victoria Mboko officially announced herself to the Melbourne faithful by pushing Aryna Sabalenka to the brink in a high-octane second-set tiebreak in the fourth round. Her combination of raw power and fearlessness suggests she won’t be a “prospect” for much longer—she’s a contender.

13 Jovic Arrives

Iva Jovic’s run to the quarterfinals was the breakthrough the American fans hadn’t been expecting—at least not this soon. At just 18, the Torrance, California native’s tactical maturity and backcourt stability drew comparisons to a young Martina Hingis, marking her as the potential breakout star of the 2026 season.

14 Tien Proves He Is No Fluke

Learner Tien’s quarterfinal run was no accident of the draw. By dismantling veterans with his surgical left-handed precision, Tien proved that last year’s breakout success on tour is perfectly suited to the biggest stages in the world. His fourth-round win over Daniil Medvedev was a work of tactical clarity; his intelligence, variation, and power were on full display as he scored another win over the former World No.1.

15 The Heat Adds Drama

Extreme heat in Melbourne led to several matches being suspended and players draped in ice towels, turning some matches into survival-of-the-fittest affairs. It nearly ended things for Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, and Jannik Sinner barely survived a scare of his own during his third-round match with Eliot Spizzirri. These moments heightened drama and served as a reminder that in Melbourne, the opponent across the net is only half the battle.

16 Rafa, Roger Return

Seeing Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer inside Rod Laver Arena, even if not together, added a fine element of “pinch-me” for all fans. Nadal’s presence at the final felt like a royal blessing for Alcaraz, who achieved at 22 what Nadal had to wait a few more years for—the Career Slam.

17 Bartunkova’s Break

Czech teen Nikola Bartunkova was a virtual unknown before she blasted through qualifying and into the third round, beating Top-10 seed Belinda Bencic along the way. Now the 19-year-old is officially a WTA player to watch.

18 Cirstea Drama Taints Farewell

Sorana Cirstea’s final Australian Open ended in a cloud of controversy following a heated dispute with Naomi Osaka after their second-round match. It was a rocky exit for a player who has given two decades to the tour, but it certainly ensured she went out on her own vocal terms.

19 Sabalenka Tiebreak Queen

Before the final, Sabalenka was untouchable in tiebreaks, winning four crucial ones throughout the fortnight. She has now notched an Open Era record of 20 consecutive tiebreaks won, a streak that surpasses the one held by Novak Djokovic (19). Where it stops, nobody knows.

20 Svitolina Breaks New Ground

Elina Svitolina’s win over Coco Gauff was perhaps the most dominant Grand Slam quarterfinal of her career. Reaching the semifinals through such a stacked draw proved that the “Mom Power” era is still in full effect.

21 Back To School w/ Michael Zheng

The Columbia University star skipped studying for a few weeks and spent his winter break taking out Sebastian Korda in a five-set thriller that captivated the college tennis world. Zheng’s run to the third round was a massive victory for the NCAA-to-pro pipeline.

22 Record Attendance

With over 1.3 million fans passing through the gates, the 2026 AO shattered every previous attendance record. Melbourne Park has effectively become a city within a city during the “Opening Week” and main draw.

23 Spizzirri Has the Spirit

Eliot Spizzirri’s battle against Jannik Sinner on Rod Laver Arena was a “star is born” moment. That loss, in four sets, and his first-round win over Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca demonstrated that he has the game to be a fixture in the Top 50.

24 The Mixed Doubles Defense 

Olivia Gadecki and John Peers defending their Mixed Doubles title provided the local fans with the “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” moment they craved. It was a rare and impressive feat of back-to-back dominance in a discipline known for its volatility.

25 Sinner’s Streak Ends 

Jannik Sinner’s aura of invincibility in Melbourne finally took a hit. His loss to Djokovic, ending a personal 19-match winning streak at the Happy Slam, was a reminder that even the world’s most clinical ball-striker can be outdone by a lower-seeded player. In this case, one who just happened to have 10 Aussie Open titles under his belt.

26 Osaka’s Art 

Say what you will about Naomi Osaka’s elaborate walk-out ensemble, designed by Robert Wun and inspired by her 2-year-old daughter Shai’s love for jellyfish—featured a long veil, flowy pants, and an umbrella—just don’t dare deny that it made the tournament more interesting.