Can anyone stop Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?

The likes of Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev and Zverev have been tipped as major winners, but between them have just one grand slam title (Medvedev’s 2021 US Open).

Now Sinner and Alcaraz appear almost untouchable, in the same way the “big three” of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic dominated the slams from the early 2000s to 2023.

As de Minaur has pointed out, the biggest question for himself and the rest of men’s tennis is: how do you bridge the gap to the “big two”?

“I think that’s something that we’re all trying to achieve,” de Minaur said. “There’s no other way than just getting better, right? That’s what it is. You ultimately have to bridge that gap … I’ve played some very close matches over the years with both of them, and you feel like you’re getting closer and closer, and that’s what it is – you’ve got to work on your game, find new weapons.”

At 38, Djokovic remains a genuine challenger, with the 24-time grand slam singles champion defeating Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Australian Open.

By comparison, the women’s game was much more balanced – though Swiatek, Gauff and Sabalenka, have threatened to emerge as a “big three”.

Keys stunned with a victory in Australia in January, but struggled to fire during the rest of the season.

The favourites – and the ones to watch – in 2026

It should be a fascinating year for women’s tennis.

The first grand slam of the season, often played out in sweltering Melbourne conditions before the off-season rust has fully worn off, can lay the foundation for the resurgence of a former champion or the breakthrough of a new one.

Naomi Osaka, a hardcourt specialist and two-time winner at Melbourne Park, found her rhythm in 2025 and will head to Australia in her best form in years. American Amanda Anisimova had two grand slam finals appearances last year and should carry that momentum into 2026, while Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina is coming off a victory at the WTA finals in November.

However, Swiatek and Sabalenka will be favourites in Australia.

On the men’s side, 2026 may well come with a strong feeling of déjà vu.

Alcaraz and Sinner will be favoured to split the grand slams again, unless one or both are injured, though there is a question mark over Alcaraz after he parted ways with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero during the off season.

The Spaniard has struggled to produce his best at slams in Ferrero’s absence, and, although the split appears to have been prompted by Alcaraz and could be seen as a necessary step in the 22-year-old’s progression as a player, it wouldn’t be surprising to see his form dip during the early adjustment period.

America’s Ben Shelton could have a breakout season if he can stay fit, while Brazil’s Joao Fonseca is the most exciting prospect on the horizon. The 19-year-old looks to have the weapons to challenge the top two, but 2026 might just be too soon.

Australians to watch

De Minaur remains Australia’s highest-ranked player at world No.7, but is currently in the pack who struggle against Sinner and Alcaraz.

Sinner leads their head-to-head 13-0, while Alcaraz has a 5-0 record against the 26-year-old.

Having made the quarter-finals at all four grand slams, the next step for de Minaur is to reach the last four of a major tournament.

In the women’s draw, Maya Joint and Daria Kasatkina are the two Australians to watch.

Joint was an Australian Open wildcard in 2025, but has surged up the rankings after winning titles in Morocco and Eastbourne. She’ll start 2026 ranked No.32, which means she should be seeded at Melbourne Park.

Meanwhile, Kasatkina will be playing her first Australian Open as an Australian after switching allegiance from Russia in March 2025.