Get to Know All 16 Women’s Singles Qualifiers at the 2026 Australian Open

The qualifiers have battled their way through, and now taken their place in the main draw, each of them earning at least $150,000 Australian for their efforts. Here’s a blurb about all 17 of them.

Bai Zhuoxuan (CHN) — No.697 | Age: 23

Former world No.83 gets Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in her first round, and if she can get through, could face world No.1 Sabalenka in round two. She has never won an Australian Open main draw match and made her only main draw appearance in Melbourne in 2024. 

Sloane Stephens (USA) — No.1097 | Age: 32

The former world No.3 and 2017 US Open champion enters her first-round match with Karolina Pliskova carrying a 12-match tour-level main draw losing streak. She dropped just one set in qualifying, however. 

Guiomar Maristany (ESP) — No.184 | Age: 26

Spaniard makes her main draw debut at the majors with a first-round match against Polina Kudermetova. 

Yuan Yue (CHN) — No.130 | Age: 27

The former world No.34 jumps right into the fray against second-seeded six-time major champion Iga Swiatek after a good qualifying run. 

Zeynep Sönmez (TUR) — No.112 | Age: 23

Turkish No.1 gets Ekaterina Alexandrova in round one. Sonmez reached the third round at Wimbledon last year but is in search of her first AO main draw win. 

Yuliia Starodubtseva (UKR) — No.110 | Age: 25

The Ukrainian owns four Grand Slam main draw wins, but none in Melbourne – she’ll try to change that in round one against Ajla Tomjlanovic. 

Himeno Sakatsume (JPN) — No.140 | Age: 24

Japanese baseliner will face American Caty McNally in her main draw debut at the majors. She recently reached her first WTA quarterfinal at Hong Kong, late last year. 

Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) — No.103 | Age: 31

Former top-30 player working her way back via qualifying, but has a tough first challenge in Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. Sasnovich has 30 Grand Slam wins, including six in Melbourne. She reached the third round in 2018 and 2019. 

Marina Stakusic (CAN) — No.127 | Age: 21

Canadian youngster makes her Australian Open debut against Priscilla Hon. 

Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) — No.178 | Age: 28

Former top-25 player, who reached the third round at Melbourne in 2023, returns to major main draw after battling through arm injury last year. She faces China’s Wang Xinyu. 

Storm Hunter (AUS) — No.363 | Age: 31

Australian doubles specialist (former doubles No.1) makes emotional return to Grand Slam stage after dealing with ruptured achilles, suffered in 2024. She faces Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. 

Linda Klimovičová (CZE) — No.134 | Age: 21

Czech player who secured her first main-draw berth at the majors in Melbourne faces Francesca Jones in round one. 

Lanlana Tararudee (THA) — No.131 | Age: 21

One of Thailand’s brightest prospects reaching a rare Grand Slam main draw. She handed out two bagel sets in qualifying en route to earning her debut at a main draw of a major. She’ll face 21st-seeded Elise Mertens. 

Maddison Inglis (AUS) — No.167 | Age: 28

Local Australian gets compatriot Kimberly Birrell in round one. Birrell owns a 5-1 edge against her across all levels. 

Linda Fruhvirtová (CZE) — No.132 | Age: 20

Former world No.49 looks for her first main draw win at a major since the 2023 Aussie Open after five consecutive losses at the Slams. She’ll face New Zealand’s Lulu Sun. 

Nikola Bartůňková (CZE) — No.126 | Age: 19

Former junior No.8 reached girls semis at Roland-Garros in 2022 and Wimbledon girls final in 2023. She’ll go against Daria Kasatkina in round one.