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

Deep Dive: Predictions for the 2026 Grand Slam Season

The 2025 tennis season came to an end with the exciting triumphs of Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open in New York. Now, it’s time to anticipate what 2026 will bring, with an eye on the Grand Slam tournaments. The 2025 season was full of memorable moments, with four women winning individual titles: Madison Keys (Australian Open), Coco Gauff (Roland Garros), Iga Swiatek (Wimbledon), and Sabalenka, in addition to an outstanding participation of American tennis players in the finals. In the men’s circuit, Alcaraz (also winner at Roland Garros) and Jannik Sinner (Australian Open and Wimbledon) shared the titles. Sinner reached the final in each Grand Slam, facing Alcaraz in three of them. Keys was the only champion for the first time in 2025. Alexander Zverev was the only man, apart from Alcaraz and Sinner, to reach a Grand Slam final.

While Sabalenka and Alcaraz enjoy their recent victories, and despite the fact that there is still a lot of action in the current season, it’s time to start planning for the 2026 season. Just four months before the start of the Australian Open, we venture to predict the main contenders for each Grand Slam.

Aryna Sabalenka won two Australian Open titles, in 2023 and 2024, before losing to Madison Keys in the final this year.Australian OpenDates: January 18 – February 1

Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia

Defending champions: Keys and Sinner

Top Female Contenders: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, and Naomi Osaka

Sabalenka will seek to reclaim the title, fueled by her recent victory at the US Open. Gauff, after her defeat in New York, will seek to address her serving issues. Swiatek, a semifinalist in 2025, will seek to complete her career Grand Slam in Australia. And, of course, Osaka, who has had a resurgence this summer.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Iva Jovic Pegula, Anisimova, and Jovic could be the surprises of the tournament.

Top male contenders: Sinner, Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic Sinner and Alcaraz are the favorites, but Djokovic, with his 24 Grand Slam titles, remains a threat. Sinner, the defending champion, will seek his third consecutive title. Alcaraz will seek to complete his career Grand Slam. Djokovic, with 10 titles in Australia, will try to break the record for Grand Slam titles.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Ben Shelton and Zverev Shelton and Zverev could challenge Alcaraz and Sinner.

Roland Garros

Dates: May 24 – June 7

Headquarters: Paris, France

Defending champions: Gauff and AlcarazTop female contenders: Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka Swiatek, Gauff, and Sabalenka are the main contenders at Roland Garros.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen Andreeva, Paolini, and Zheng could surprise in Paris.

Top male contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic are the favorites for Roland Garros.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Lorenzo Musetti, Zverev, Holger Rune Musetti, Zverev, and Rune could surprise in Paris.

Wimbledon

Dates: June 29 – July 12

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

Defending champions: Swiatek and SinnerTop female contenders: Swiatek, Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Rybakina are the main female contenders at Wimbledon.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Anisimova, Andreeva Anisimova and Andreeva could surprise at Wimbledon.

Top male contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic are the favorites for Wimbledon.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper Fritz and Draper could surprise at Wimbledon.

US Open

Dates: August 30 – September 13

Headquarters: New York

Defending champions: Sabalenka and AlcarazTop female contenders: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, Osaka Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, and Osaka are the main female contenders at the US Open.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Anisimova, Karolina Muchova, Victoria Mboko Anisimova, Muchova, and Mboko could surprise at the US Open.

Top male contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic are the favorites for the US Open.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Shelton, Fritz, Draper, Felix Auger-Aliassime Shelton, Fritz, Draper, and Auger-Aliassime could surprise at the US Open.