The 2025 Grand Slam season concluded with the US Open in New York, where Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz were crowned champions.
The season left memorable moments. Four women took titles: Madison Keys (Australian Open), Coco Gauff (Roland Garros), Iga Swiatek (Wimbledon), and Sabalenka. In the men’s draw, Alcaraz (also a winner at Roland Garros) and Jannik Sinner (Australian Open and Wimbledon) shared the titles. Sinner reached the final in all Grand Slam tournaments, 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 celebrate their victories, and although there’s still tennis to be played this year, it’s time to look towards 2026. There are only four months left until the start of the Australian Open.
Here, a look at the main contenders for each of the Grand Slam tournaments in 2026.
Australian Open
Date: January 18 – February 1Headquarters: Melbourne, AustraliaDefending 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. After losing to Keys in this year’s final, she will pursue her fifth Grand Slam title on her favorite surface and tournament. Gauff hopes to leave behind the problems with her serve, which she hopes to solve after working with Gavin MacMillan. Swiatek, a semifinalist in 2025, will seek to complete the Grand Slam in Australia. Osaka, with a resurgence this summer, will look to continue her comeback to tennis.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Iva Jovic Pegula, a semi-finalist at the 2024 US Open, has defeated top contenders in the past, why not in Melbourne? Anisimova, with experience in Wimbledon and US Open finals, seems ready for a major title. Jovic, junior champion at the 2024 Australian Open and winner of the Guadalajara tournament, could surprise.
Novak Djokovic is still looking for his 25th Grand Slam title to break the all-time record.
Top male contenders: Sinner, Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic Sinner and Alcaraz are the clear favorites. Djokovic, with 24 Grand Slam titles, remains a threat. Sinner, defending champion of the Australian Open, will seek his third consecutive title. Alcaraz, number 1 in the world, will try to complete the Grand Slam and win his first title in Australia. Djokovic, with 10 titles in Australia, will seek to break the Grand Slam titles record.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Ben Shelton and Zverev Shelton, with a good performance on hard court, could challenge Alcaraz and Sinner. Zverev, finalist in 2025, could find his opportunity in Melbourne.
Will Coco Gauff win a third major title in 2026?
Roland Garros
Date: May 24 – June 7Headquarters: Paris, FranceDefending champions: Gauff and AlcarazTop female contenders: Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka Swiatek, a four-time champion at Roland Garros, will seek to reclaim her title. Gauff, after demonstrating her talent on clay, will seek her first consecutive Grand Slam title. Sabalenka, after losing in the final, will seek to prove that she can win on clay.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen Andreeva, a semi-finalist in 2024, is poised for her breakthrough. Paolini, a finalist at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, remains a dominant force on clay. Zheng, who won Olympic gold at Roland Garros, returns after an injury.
Mirra Andreeva reached the semi-finals of the 2025 French Open.
Top male contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic Alcaraz, defending champion, could face Sinner in an epic rematch. Djokovic, three-time champion at Roland Garros, will seek the title.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Lorenzo Musetti, Zverev, Holger Rune Musetti, with a good performance on clay in 2025, could improve even more. Zverev, finalist in 2024, could have a chance. Rune, with a good performance on clay, will seek more success.
Iga Swiatek was the surprising winner of Wimbledon this year.
Wimbledon
Date: June 29 – July 12Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Defending champions: Swiatek and SinnerTop female contenders: Swiatek, Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina Swiatek, with little experience on grass, surprised by winning the title. Sabalenka, three-time semi-finalist, will seek to reach the final. Rybakina, champion in 2022, is always a contender.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Anisimova, Andreeva Anisimova, with a great performance at Wimbledon, could be the favorite. Andreeva, with more experience, could advance even further.
Taylor Fritz was a finalist at the US Open 2024, but his best surface could be grass.
Top male contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic Alcaraz, champion in 2023 and 2024, will seek to regain the title. Sinner, defending champion, will seek his second consecutive title. Djokovic, seven-time Wimbledon champion, will seek to break the record.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper Fritz, with experience on grass, could surprise. Draper, the local favorite, could cause an upset.
US Open
Date: August 30 – September 13
Headquarters: New York
Defending champions: Sabalenka and AlcarazTop female contenders: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, Osaka Sabalenka will seek her third consecutive title. Gauff, Swiatek, and Osaka will also seek the title.Best chance for a Grand Slam champion for the first time: Anisimova, Karolina Muchova, Victoria Mboko Anisimova, after her performance at Wimbledon, could have a chance. Muchova, a semi-finalist at the US Open, is always in contention. Mboko, with a great performance at the Canadian Open, could surprise.
