I’m a casual tennis fan. What have I missed?

So you like tennis, but don’t stay up all night watching it during the year unless there’s an Aussie on a roll at Wimbledon. But now it’s Australian Open time, and you can’t get enough of it. Let us bring you up to speed.

Who is the men’s No.1, and what is ‘Sincaraz’?

Carlos Alcaraz (world No.1) and Jannik Sinner (No.2) are dominating the men’s game. And they took their stranglehold to a new level in 2025 – thanks, in part, to a ridiculously good Roland Garros final won by Alcaraz that lasted five hours and 29 minutes.

Some of the top seeds at the 2026 Australian Open.Credit: Getty, AP, The Age

Between them, Alcaraz and Sinner have won the past eight grand slams and nine of the past 10, hence the so-called ‘Sincaraz’ rivalry - bromance, even - between them.

Loading

Read about the ‘Sincaraz’ phenomenon here.

On the rankings they are miles ahead of the next best - German Alexander Zverev, who is yet to win a major. The game’s greatest ever player, Novak Djokovic, comes into the Australian Open as world No.4 after reaching the semis at all four majors last year.

Djokovic has won 10 Australian Opens and a record 24 grand slams. Can he win a 25th?

Who rules the women’s game?

In sharp contrast, four different women won slams last year – Madison Keys claimed the Australian Open, Coco Gauff won her second major at Roland-Garros, Iga Swiatek got her hands on the Wimbledon trophy for the first time, and world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka claimed her second US Open. Sabalenka, Swiatek and Gauff are consistently the best players on tour.

Sabalenka ahead of the Australian Open, which she has won twice.Credit: Getty Images

But there was a big mover in 2025. American Amanda Anisimova climbed to No.4, reaching the Wimbledon and US Open finals. Anisimova had the unwanted distinction of losing to Swiatek at the All-England club 6-0, 6-0, but has bounced back superbly.

Read about her friendship with Australian bestie Priscilla Hon here. 

What about the Aussies?

Australia’s top men’s player is Alex de Minaur, who’s climbed to No.6 in the world. He faces a “lucky loser” in the first round after his opponent Matteo Berretini, withdrew through illness. But there’s tough road ahead of de Minaur, who is drawn to play American Frances Tiafoe in the third round and Alcaraz in the quarters. The Australian is yet to break through to a grand slam semi-final.

Alex de Minaur trains at Melbourne Park.Credit: Getty Images

Australia’s best women’s player is a youngster who has surged up the charts. Maya Joint, 19, is the world No.32 and thus earned an Australian Open seeding. Joint won the Eastbourne title ahead of Wimbledon last year. Even a fourth-round appearance at Melbourne would be an excellent step forward. Importantly, she likes Vegemite. 

The country also secured a new women’s star, after former top-10 player Daria Kasatkina sensationally switched allegiances from Russia to Australia last year. Kasatkina has played the Australian Open for more than a decade, but this is her first as an Aussie.

Top Australian woman Maya Joint. Credit: Eddie Jim

Most Viewed in Sport

Loading