Aussie summer, slam pressure and a draw that will make coaches sweat.
The Australian Open returns to Melbourne Park from 18 January to 1 February with the singles draw set for Thursday, 15 January at 2:30 p.m. AEDT and a field stocked with the world’s top players ready to set the tone for 2026.
Key Dates, Draws And Big Names
My Tennis Expert believes the Australian Open 2026 will set the tone for the entire season and that the timing of the draw leaves little room for a slow start.
My Tennis Expert
The Australian Open singles draw will be made on Thursday, 15 January at 2:30 p.m. AEDT. The doubles draw will be made on-site on Saturday, 17 January at 3 p.m., giving fans and analysts a fast preview of potential blockbuster matchups across both draws.
Qualifying runs from Monday, 12 January through Thursday, 15 January with varying start times, while the main draw opens Sunday, 18 January and stretches through to the singles final on Sunday, 1 February at 7:30 p.m. local time in Melbourne.
Prize Money, Points And Scheduling Essentials
The tournament prize pool is a headline figure: AUD $111.5 million. That headline translates into substantial paydays at every stage, and there is real money and ranking consequence waiting for every player who survives a round or two in Melbourne Park.
For singles the winner pockets $4,150,000 and a premium ranking boost, while the runner up earns $2,150,000. The event awards the champion 2,000 points and the finalist 1,300 points, numbers that can swing rankings early in the season.
Doubles teams are playing for meaningful rewards too, with the winning team receiving $900,000 and the full complement of 2,000 points. Prize money and points scale sharply through the rounds and make both singles and doubles deep runs worth the effort.
Who To Watch, History And How To Follow
The entry list reads like a highlight reel. Expect No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, defending champion Jannik Sinner, 10-time winner Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and top contenders including Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton and home favourite Alex de Minaur.
Jannik Sinner clinched the 2025 Australian Open singles title with a 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev, and he arrives in Melbourne as the man to beat while Djokovic will always factor into Grand Slam conversations given his record.
Historic notes matter at this event: Novak Djokovic holds the record for most Australian Open singles titles with 10, Ken Rosewall remains the oldest champion at 37 in 1972, while Mats Wilander is listed as the youngest champion at 19 in 1983.
Other trivia that shapes perspective: Mark Edmondson won in 1976 ranked No. 212, Roger Federer holds the record for most match wins with 102, and the tournament dates back to its origins in 1905 under the stewardship of tournament director Craig Tiley.
Watching and following the action is straightforward. Use the official Australian Open channels and the hashtag #AO2026, follow @australianopen across platforms, and tune into regional broadcast partners for live coverage and commentary during the two-week fortnight.
Fans planning a trip to Melbourne Park should note session start times from mid-morning and evening, with doubles final scheduled for Saturday, 31 January and the singles final at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, 1 February, so evenings will be prime time for headline matches.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
