What did the first major of the year show? AfroPari breaks down how Australian Open shapes tennis season
The Australian Open 2026 (the 114th edition) questioned the usual hierarchy from the very first days. Even with a standard draw, the tournament quickly knocked out several favorites: the 2025 champions, Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner, failed to reach the final. This was the first signal – the 2026 season is unlikely to rely on past achievements.
Magic of numbers and records at AO 2026
From the first days, the tournament questioned the usual hierarchy and at the same time recorded several historic achievements:
- Centurion: By beating Pedro Martínez in the first round, Novak Djokovic earned his 100th win in Melbourne. He became the only player in history to win 100+ matches at three different Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon).
- Marathon clash: The semifinal battle between Alcaraz and Zverev, lasting 5 hours and 27 minutes, became the longest semifinal in the competition’s history and the third-longest match overall at the Australian Open.
- Timeless youth: At 38, jokovic records Australian Open, becoming the oldest finalist in the tournament’s history. This final was his 38th at Grand Slam events, a tennis record.
Australian Open 2026 was remembered not only for records but also for personal stories that largely shaped the tournament’s course.
Lorenzo Musetti’s injury
The Italian was one step from a shock, dominating the quarterfinal against Djokovic (6-4, 6-3). But at 1-3 in the third set, a thigh muscle tear forced him to retire. The fifth seed left the court in tears, and his exit while clearly leading became the main drama of the men’s draw.
Stan Wawrinka’s farewell
The three-time Grand Slam champion closed his Australian chapter at the same place where he won his first title in 2014. At 40, Stan showed his backhand is still dangerous, becoming the oldest player to reach the third round in decades. The stadium gave the legend a standing ovation.
Unexpected finals
In the women’s draw, experts favored the Sabalenka-Świątek duo. Elena Rybakina, ranked only fifth in the odds, wasn’t considered as a real contender. After a long slump and a series of withdrawals in 2024, many wrote her off. But her triumph at the 2025 Finals proved that Elena not only returned, she came back stronger.
In the final against Aryna Sabalenka, Rybakina’s chances were rated no higher than 45%. In the third set, she was down 0-3 but managed to turn the match around, breaking her opponent’s serve twice in a row and winning triumphantly (6-4, 4-6, 6-4). This victory in Melbourne showed that Elena had overcome her losing streak and secured her status as the most dangerous force on the tour.
In the men’s final, we saw the most striking battle of generations: the difference between Alcaraz (22) and Djokovic (38) was 16 years. Novak took the first set confidently (6-2), but Carlos made a comeback, winning the next three sets in a row. The victory made the Spaniard the youngest player in the Open Era to win titles at all four majors (a Career Grand Slam on three surfaces).
Key lessons from Australian Open 2026
The Australian Open 2026 not only opened the season but also set a new hierarchy. In the men’s tour, a dual leadership emerged: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are now clearly ahead of the competition.
The tournament in Melbourne confirmed the end of the era of passive “long rallies”: in the heat, winners were those who took control immediately. Focusing on Serve + 1 (a powerful serve and an aggressive first shot) became the key to dominance, allowing players to dictate the pace and save energy for the decisive stages.
At future majors, Alcaraz and Sinner will lead opposite halves of the draw, making a clash in the final only a matter of time. Novak Djokovic remains a formidable force, but his “ceiling” is now the final, not a 25th title. The Serbian’s main goal is to rack up wins in New York to become the first player in history to reach a “golden one hundred” at all four majors.
In women’s tennis, the era of one-star dominance is over. Although Aryna Sabalenka keeps the top spot, her vulnerability in finals against underdogs has become clear. With Iga Swiatek’s decline, Elena Rybakina has become the season’s main force: her winning streak at the 2025 Finals and in Melbourne makes her a favorite at any tournament. However, the WTA remains unpredictable – at Wimbledon, the top players will likely face competition from Gauff, Pegula, or Anisimova.
The main betting insight from the competition was the “mental armor” of the new champions. Both Alcaraz in the final against Djokovic and Rybakina in the deciding set against Sabalenka showed that today, titles go not to those who never make mistakes, but to those who can instantly “reset” after failures. The ability to turn matches around against living legends is the factor that finally confirmed the change of generations.
The Australian Open is history, but ahead are the clay battles in Paris, the grass courts in London, and the hard courts of the US Open. Follow world tennis and back your bets with AfroPari’s analysis!
