Predictions 2026: Who will reign at the Grand Slam Tennis tournaments?

Deep Analysis: Who Will Dominate Tennis in 2026?

The 2025 Grand Slam season came to an end in New York, with Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz taking the US Open titles. Now, it’s time to look to the future and analyze who will be the main contenders in the most important tournaments of 2026. The year 2025 was a memorable season, with four women Grand Slam champions: Madison Keys (Australian Open), Coco Gauff (Roland Garros), Iga Swiatek (Wimbledon), and Sabalenka. In the men’s category, Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner shared the titles.

Australian Open

Date: January 18 – February 1

Defending champions: Keys and SinnerTop female contenders: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, and Naomi Osaka. Sabalenka will seek to reclaim the title, boosted by her recent victory at the US Open. Gauff, with her service issues resolved, will aim to improve her performance. Swiatek, a semifinalist in 2025, will try to complete the Grand Slam. Osaka, in a moment of resurgence, will seek to advance in her return to tennis.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Iva Jovic. Pegula, Anisimova, and Jovic, with their respective achievements and potential, could surprise in Melbourne.

Top male contenders: Sinner, Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. Sinner and Alcaraz, the clear favorites, have dominated the last two years. Djokovic, despite his age, remains a threat. Sinner, the defending champion, will seek his third consecutive title. Alcaraz will seek to complete the Grand Slam and win his first Australian Open. Djokovic, with ten titles in Australia, will seek to break the record for Grand Slam titles.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev.

Roland Garros

Date: May 24 – June 7

Defending champions: Gauff and AlcarazTop female contenders: Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka Swiatek, four-time champion at Roland Garros, will seek to regain her dominance on clay. Gauff, with a good performance on the surface, will seek her first consecutive title. Sabalenka, after her defeat in the final, will seek to prove her worth on clay.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen Andreeva, Paolini, and Zheng, with their talent and potential, could surprise.

Top male contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic Alcaraz and Sinner, after an epic final in 2025, could face each other again. Djokovic will seek his fourth title at Roland Garros.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Lorenzo Musetti, Zverev, Holger Rune. Musetti, Zverev, and Rune, with their potential on clay, could surprise.

Wimbledon

Date: June 29 – July 12

Defending champions: Swiatek and SinnerTop female contenders: Swiatek, Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina Swiatek, after her unexpected triumph, could be the favorite. Sabalenka will seek to reach the final, and Rybakina, champion in 2022, is always a contender.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Anisimova, Andreeva Anisimova and Andreeva, with their good performance on grass, could surprise.

Top male contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic Alcaraz, Sinner and Djokovic, the favorites, will seek the title. Sinner, defending champion, will seek his second consecutive title. Djokovic, with seven Wimbledon titles, will seek to break the record.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper Fritz and Draper, with their good performance on grass, could surprise.

US Open

Date: August 30 – September 13

Defending champions: Sabalenka and AlcarazTop female contenders: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, Osaka Sabalenka will seek her third consecutive title. Gauff and Swiatek will seek the title. Osaka, after her return, will seek a new title.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Anisimova, Karolina Muchova, Victoria Mboko Anisimova, Muchova, and Mboko, with their talent, could surprise.

Top male contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic Alcaraz and Sinner, after a dominant final in 2025, will seek the title. Djokovic will seek a new title.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Shelton, Fritz, Draper, Felix Auger-Aliassime Shelton, Fritz, Draper, and Auger-Aliassime, with their potential, could surprise.