The 2025 main season got here to a detailed final week in New York, as Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz claimed the US Open trophies.
It was a memorable season on the 12 months’s Slams. 4 ladies took dwelling the titles — Madison Keys (Australian Open), Coco Gauff (French Open), Iga Swiatek (Wimbledon) and Sabalenka, and an American girl reached the ultimate at every. On the boys’s facet, issues had been extra simple, as Alcaraz (who additionally received on the French Open) and Jannik Sinner (Australian Open and Wimbledon) cut up the titles. Sinner reached the ultimate at each Slam, and he performed towards Alcaraz in three of them.
Keys was the one first-time champion in 2025. Alexander Zverev was the lone man not named Alcaraz or Sinner to succeed in a serious last.
However whereas Sabalenka and Alcaraz would possibly nonetheless be celebrating the most recent {hardware} of their rising collections, and there stays numerous tennis to be performed this 12 months in the course of the Asian swing and on the WTA and ATP Finals, it is time we begin looking forward to 2026. Consider it or not, there’s solely 4 brief months earlier than the beginning of the primary draw on the Australian Open.
It’s a daunting job to make predictions about subsequent season’s Slams — however that will not cease us from attempting. This is who ought to be the highest contenders at every of the majors in 2026.
Australian Open
When: Jan. 18 – Feb. 1
The place: Melbourne, Australia
Defending champions: Keys and Sinner
Prime ladies’s contenders: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek and Naomi Osaka
Sabalenka will arrive in Melbourne seeking to reclaim the trophy and might be buoyed by her newest US Open title. A two-time champion on the occasion, Sabalenka got here oh-so-close to the elusive three-peat earlier than being defeated by Keys within the last this 12 months. She’ll be greater than desperate to win her fifth Slam title on her favourite floor and at considered one of her favourite tournaments.
After a tricky fourth-round loss in New York as she struggled to repair her latest serving woes, Gauff ought to enter the brand new 12 months with these points hopefully behind her after some devoted time working with Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics professional employed to just do that. One of many hardest to beat on the arduous courtroom when she’s at her greatest, Gauff reached the 2024 semifinals in Melbourne and the quarterfinals this 12 months.
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Swiatek additionally reminded everybody how good she could be on that floor this 12 months with a victory in Cincinnati forward of the US Open and a quarterfinal run in New York. She is a two-time semifinalist, together with in 2025, and might be seeking to full the profession Grand Slam in Australia.
And naturally, there’s Osaka. The four-time main champion, together with twice on the Australian Open, has been resurgent this summer time with a last run on the Canadian Open and a semifinal look in New York. She’s again as much as No. 14 within the rankings — her highest displaying since coming back from maternity go away initially of 2024 — and can attempt to take her comeback even additional Down Underneath.
Finest probability for a first-time Slam champion: Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Iva Jovic
A 3-time Australian Open quarterfinalist, Pegula reached the 2024 US Open last and had a semifinal run in New York this 12 months. She has overwhelmed the highest contenders on the floor earlier than — why not in Melbourne when the stakes are highest?
Anisimova reached back-to-back main finals at Wimbledon and the US Open and recorded some staggeringly spectacular wins alongside the best way. Now that she has these experiences underneath her belt, a Slam title feels extra like a “when” than an “if.”
And, whereas actually extra of an extended shot, would anybody be utterly shocked to see Jovic make a deep run — and even run the desk — in Australia? The 17-year-old, who was the 2024 Australian Open junior champion, received the primary title of her profession on Sunday on the 500-level Guadalajara Open. She turned the youngest champion on tour this season and is now into the highest 40 within the rankings. We have actually seen extra surprising winners in recent times.
Prime males’s contenders: Sinner, Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic
Okay, earlier than we leap in right here, we have to state the plain: Sinner and Alcaraz would be the clear favorites at each main going ahead within the rapid future. The 2 have mixed to win each Slam title over the previous two seasons and it is arduous to see that altering anytime quickly. Djokovic, the 24-time main champion, stays the following greatest hope, regardless of being 38 years previous, and there’s a appreciable hole between him and the remainder of the sphere. For now, anyway.
It is extremely spectacular what the 24-year-old Sinner and 22-year-old Alcaraz have executed, in addition to Djokovic, who reached the semifinals at each main this 12 months, nevertheless it won’t make for essentially the most attention-grabbing of predictions.
Sinner is the two-time defending Australian Open champion. Can he grow to be the primary man since Djokovic to win three in a row? Certain! He undoubtedly may and can probably be the favourite coming into the event.
However Alcaraz, like Swiatek, might be seeking to full the profession Grand Slam and win his first Australian Open title. He is now the world No. 1 and with the titles on the US Open and Cincinnati, he has seemingly closed the hard-court hole with Sinner and can virtually undoubtedly surpass his earlier greatest results of the quarterfinals.
Djokovic is a 10-time champion in Australia, having received most just lately in 2023, and can proceed his quest to interrupt the all-time document for many main titles. However even he admitted what a problem that might be towards the brand new Huge Two.
Finest probability for a first-time Slam champion: Ben Shelton and Zverev
The 22-year-old Shelton appears to have nearly as good an opportunity as anybody to problem Alcaraz and Sinner at majors, and he actually may do this in Melbourne on his most well-liked floor. The present world No. 6 reached the semifinals this season and received the Canadian Open in August. Assuming his shoulder is wholesome — he needed to retire from his third-round match on the US Open — he may need what it takes to stun the world.
Zverev reached the 2025 last and is a three-time main finalist. After he fell to Sinner final 12 months in Melbourne, he stated he wasn’t positive if he would ever win a Slam trophy. Since then, he reached the quarters in Paris, misplaced within the first spherical at Wimbledon and was despatched packing within the third spherical on the US Open. Maybe Melbourne could be the place he turns it throughout.
French Open
When: Might 24 – June 7
The place: Paris, France
Defending champions: Gauff and Alcaraz
Prime ladies’s contenders: Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka
Swiatek is a four-time champion at Roland Garros and had been the overwhelming favourite to win the 2025 title earlier than she was surprised by Sabalenka within the semifinals. Regardless of this 12 months’s stumble, or maybe partially due to it, Swiatek will probably be the favourite but once more in Paris and she or he’ll be decided to return to her “Queen of Clay” standing.
Gauff, nonetheless, has actually confirmed how proficient she could be on the floor. She reached the finals in each Madrid and Rome main into the French Open and might be searching for her first back-to-back main title.
Sabalenka, whom Gauff defeated within the last, can even be hoping to avenge her three-set loss within the championship match and present she will be able to win on the pure surfaces.
Finest probability for a first-time Slam champion: Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen
The 18-year-old Andreeva reached the 2024 semifinals in Paris and adopted it up with a quarterfinal look this season (and reached the semifinals in doubles). The champion at two 1000-level tournaments this season, she’s poised for her main breakthrough and a title feels inevitable. Will it’s this 12 months?
Paolini, a 2024 French Open (and Wimbledon) finalist, did not fairly match her success in 2025 however she did win the doubles title in Paris, and walked away with the trophy at her dwelling event, on clay, in Rome. She stays a dominant drive on the floor, in each singles and doubles. And, Zheng, who claimed 2024 Olympic gold at Roland Garros, has been sidelined since Wimbledon with an elbow damage and subsequent surgical procedure, however is anticipated to make her return later this month.
Prime males’s contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic
These three once more? These three once more. In 2025, Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, battled again for the title towards Sinner right away basic of a last that lasted 5 hours and 29 minutes. Many tennis followers will probably be clamoring for a rematch — and so they actually may get it. Alcaraz has the sting on clay, however as Sinner had simply returned from a three-month suspension in Might, he’ll probably be much more of a formidable foe in 2026 on that floor, and with the additional incentive of attempting to finish the profession Grand Slam.
Djokovic is a three-time champion at Roland Garros, together with his most up-to-date title coming in 2023. He misplaced only one set en path to the 2025 semifinals earlier than falling to Sinner, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
Finest probability for a first-time Slam champion: Lorenzo Musetti, Zverev, Holger Rune
It was a formidable 2025 for Musetti on clay. He reached the semifinals in Paris for the primary time and even received the opening set towards Alcaraz earlier than retiring with damage within the fourth set. He additionally reached the ultimate on the 1000-level Monte Carlo Masters occasion, and the semifinals in each Madrid and Rome. Solely 23, it is arduous to assume he will not proceed to enhance and grow to be much more of a drive in 2026.
Zverev, a 2024 finalist, received the 500-level title in Munich in April and has reached the quarterfinals or higher in seven appearances on the French Open. It stays considered one of his greatest tournaments, and if he’ll win one, it may very nicely be there. The 22-year-old Rune was as soon as considered in the identical class as Alcaraz and Sinner however has not had comparable success. Nonetheless, he has had a few of his strongest showings on clay — together with successful the title in Barcelona this 12 months with a victory over Alcaraz within the last — and has twice made the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
Wimbledon
When: June 29 – July 12
The place: London, United Kingdom
Defending champions: Swiatek and Sinner
Prime ladies’s contenders: Swiatek, Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina
With restricted expertise on grass as a result of her sometimes prolonged clay season, few anticipated Swiatek to hoist the trophy on the All England Membership. However after her barely early exit at Roland Garros, Swiatek turned her sights to the grass — and it paid off. Having performed in simply three major attracts on the floor other than Wimbledon within the years prior, Swiatek reached the ultimate at Dangerous Homburg throughout a lead-in occasion after which was dominant at Wimbledon. She had by no means beforehand superior previous the quarters, however received the title with a staggering efficiency, together with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Anisimova within the last. She confessed she wasn’t ever positive she may do it once more at Wimbledon after successful, however with the best way her sport got here collectively on grass, she could be the favourite subsequent 12 months.
Sabalenka, a three-time semifinalist, was devastated by Anisimova within the semis however vowed she would come again stronger. Wimbledon stays the one main through which she hasn’t reached the ultimate and she’s going to probably do every little thing she will be able to to alter that in 2026.
Rybakina, the 2022 champion, has had an up-and-down journey on the All England Membership — and elsewhere — since her triumph. She reached the 2023 quarterfinals, the 2024 semifinals and was upset within the third spherical this 12 months. Nonetheless, she is all the time a contender on the floor and is aware of what it takes to win on the storied venue.
Finest probability for a first-time Slam champion: Anisimova, Andreeva
Anisimova was masterful in her first six matches on the All England Membership this 12 months, particularly throughout her 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal victory over Sabalenka through which she convincingly held her nerve throughout essentially the most essential factors of the tense encounter. Having additionally reached the ultimate at Queen’s Membership in June — her first grass-court last — Anisimova has displayed that she has what it takes on the floor. Whereas the ultimate wasn’t precisely her greatest, she ought to be a fan favourite in 2026 due to her gracious speech and demeanor after the lopsided loss.
Andreeva, who reached the fourth spherical in her debut at Wimbledon in 2023, had her greatest end result this 12 months by reaching the quarterfinals. She fell in two tiebreaks towards Belinda Bencic and missed out on advancing to the semifinals, however extra expertise in tight moments will solely assist her down the highway.
Prime males’s contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic
Alcaraz received the title in 2023 and 2024 — beating Djokovic in each finals — and seemed nicely on his strategy to the three-peat earlier than Sinner performed spoiler within the last. Dropping the primary set, Sinner stormed again to win in 4 units, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. It was the one set Sinner misplaced on the All England Membership this 12 months.
Whereas Alcaraz walked away because the runner-up, he nonetheless owns a ridiculous 35-4 profession document on grass and he is a four-time champion on the floor, together with on the 2025 Queen’s Membership occasion in June. The loss to Sinner marked his first defeat in a last on the floor.
Djokovic is a seven-time Wimbledon champion. Whereas he misplaced to Sinner in straight units within the semifinals this 12 months, it nonetheless feels as if the event stays his greatest probability to interrupt the document — nevertheless it’s solely going to be more durable in 2026.
Finest probability for a first-time Slam champion: Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper
The longtime chief of the American males and infrequently thought of its greatest hope to snap the now 22-year main drought, Fritz has come shut. He reached the 2024 US Open last and recorded his first semifinal look on the All England Membership this 12 months after two earlier quarterfinal runs. Fritz is a five-time champion on grass, together with claiming the titles this 12 months at Eastbourne (his fourth on the occasion) and Stuttgart. Whereas he got here closest to a serious title in New York, grass could be his greatest floor — and he has the expertise to again it up and presumably pull off a shock victory or two.
And naturally, do not depend out Draper, the house favourite. There’s nothing the gang want to see extra. He shut his 2025 season down early as a result of an arm damage however ought to be again in time for the beginning of 2026. Whereas he has by no means superior previous the second spherical at Wimbledon, he made the semifinals on the 2024 US Open and has had some success on grass with a 2024 last look in Stuttgart and a semifinal run at Queen’s Membership this 12 months.
US Open
When: Aug. 30 – Sept. 13
The place: New York
Defending champions: Sabalenka and Alcaraz
Prime ladies’s contenders: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, Osaka
The tip of the season is all the time difficult, as gamers are sometimes preventing fatigue, motivation and accidents, however the top-ranked ladies ought to stay the favorites on the 12 months’s last Slam.
Sabalenka is now the two-time defending champion and has received over the New York crowd. She is assured and comfy on the event and will not let this three-peat alternative go and not using a severe battle.
Gauff, the 2023 champion, will wish to show her fourth-round exit this 12 months and final 12 months had been flukes. If her serving struggles are behind her, she may have nearly as good an opportunity as any to win the title.
In fact, Swiatek, the 2022 champion, and Osaka, the 2018 and 2020 champion, can even be seeking to finish their 2026 seasons with a trophy. Swiatek matched her greatest end result since successful with a quarterfinal run this 12 months, and it was abundantly clear she believed she may go additional. It was additionally evident how a lot it meant to the 27-year-old Osaka to succeed in the semifinals this 12 months, and it is arduous to assume she will not be fueled by that run, and that feeling, subsequent season.
Finest probability for a first-time Slam champion: Anisimova, Karolina Muchova, Victoria Mboko
After her run at Wimbledon, Anisimova adopted it up by reaching the ultimate on the US Open — and even avenged the loss to Swiatek within the quarters in commanding vogue, 6-4, 6-3. She then beat Osaka within the semifinals in a hard-fought 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 battle. Whereas she did not discover the identical stage towards Sabalenka within the 6-3, 7-6(3) last, her valiant effort within the second set to drive a tiebreak confirmed her progress and psychological fortitude. Profitable the 2026 title would full her final comeback after a break from the game in 2023.
Muchova is a two-time US Open semifinalist and reached the quarters this 12 months. She was the 2023 French Open runner-up and is all the time within the combine, even when hampered by accidents or durations of inactivity. Her versatile sport and sheer athleticism make her a contender wherever she goes.
The 19-year-old Mboko had a disappointing first-round exit on the US Open this 12 months, however her unbelievable efficiency on the Canadian Open, through which she received the title, made her a reputation to recollect. She began the 12 months ranked outdoors of the highest 300 and is now No. 23 — and is just getting higher. Anticipate extra breakthrough performances for the Canadian in 2026.
Prime males’s contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic
Each Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, and Sinner, the defending champion, had been dominant of their respective runs to the ultimate in New York.
Alcaraz and his ever-improving serve did not drop a set, and he misplaced simply two service video games. He defeated Djokovic 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 within the semifinals. Sinner was pushed to 4 units twice however hardly in hassle. Alexander Bublik, the event’s No. 23 seed, in contrast him to A.I. after shedding to him 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 within the fourth spherical.
Alcaraz overpowered Sinner for a lot of the ultimate, shedding only one set and one service sport, and claimed the title — resulting in what may very well be an enchanting rematch between the 2 in 2026.
Djokovic is a four-time victor in New York. It is arduous to foretell how he’ll fare at this stage subsequent 12 months, or what he would possibly say about his future within the sport, however one will think about he’ll give all of it he is bought.
Finest probability for a first-time Slam champion: Shelton, Fritz, Draper, Felix Auger-Aliassime
Beloved by the American crowd for his large sport and even greater serve and showmanship, Shelton reached the 2023 semifinals and plenty of believed he may match that this season earlier than his damage. He has confirmed how good he could be on the arduous courtroom, and the way a lot he thrives with the gang behind him, so this would possibly simply be one of the best probability for anybody outdoors of the Huge Two to win a serious trophy in 2026.
Fritz, who might be two years faraway from his last look, can even be seeking to get it executed at a spot through which he is aware of nicely, as will fellow former semifinalists Draper and Auger-Aliassime, who has twice reached the spherical, together with this 12 months. Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian, fought again after shedding the primary set to Sinner within the semis and finally fell in 4 units. The winner of two 2025 titles on the floor, Auger-Aliassime may have much more confidence within the new season and all of that may assist him subsequent September in New York.
