Way-Too-Early Grand Slam Predictions for 2026

The 2025 Grand Slam season recently concluded in New York, witnessing Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz lift the US Open titles.

The year`s major tournaments were eventful. Four different women claimed titles: Madison Keys (Australian Open), Coco Gauff (French Open), Iga Swiatek (Wimbledon), and Aryna Sabalenka (US Open), with an American woman reaching the final of every major. The men`s circuit was dominated by Carlos Alcaraz, who secured two titles including the French Open, and Jannik Sinner, who triumphed at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Sinner made it to the final of all four Slams, facing Alcaraz in three of those showdowns.

Madison Keys was the sole first-time major champion in 2025. Alexander Zverev stood out as the only male player besides Alcaraz and Sinner to reach a Grand Slam final.

Even as Sabalenka and Alcaraz enjoy their recent victories, and with the Asian swing and year-end finals still on the horizon, it`s already time to shift focus to the 2026 season. The main draw of the Australian Open is a mere four months away.

Predicting the outcomes of next season`s Grand Slams is challenging, but we`ll attempt it nonetheless. Here`s a look at the anticipated top contenders for each major tournament in 2026.

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Australian Open

When: January 18 – February 1

Where: Melbourne, Australia

Defending Champions: Keys and Sinner

Top Women`s Contenders: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, and Naomi Osaka

Aryna Sabalenka will arrive in Melbourne aiming to reclaim the trophy, bolstered by her recent US Open victory. A two-time champion at this event, Sabalenka narrowly missed a rare three-peat after her defeat by Keys in this year`s final. She will be highly motivated to secure her fifth Grand Slam title on her preferred hard court at one of her favorite tournaments.

After a challenging fourth-round exit in New York due to ongoing serving difficulties, Coco Gauff is expected to begin the new year with these issues resolved, thanks to dedicated work with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan. Gauff, formidable on hard courts at her peak, reached the 2024 semifinals in Melbourne and the quarterfinals this year.

Iga Swiatek also demonstrated her prowess on hard courts this year, winning in Cincinnati before the US Open and making a quarterfinal run in New York. A two-time semifinalist in Melbourne, including in 2025, Swiatek will be looking to complete her career Grand Slam in Australia.

Naomi Osaka, a four-time major champion with two Australian Open titles, has shown resurgence this summer with a final appearance at the Canadian Open and a semifinal berth in New York. Her ranking has climbed to No. 14, her highest since returning from maternity leave in early 2024, and she aims to further her comeback Down Under.

Best Chance for a First-Time Slam Champion: Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Iva Jovic

Jessica Pegula, a three-time Australian Open quarterfinalist, reached the 2024 US Open final and the semifinals in New York this year. Having previously defeated top contenders on hard courts, she has a strong opportunity in Melbourne when the stakes are highest.

Amanda Anisimova advanced to consecutive major finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, securing impressive victories along the way. With these experiences, a Grand Slam title seems more a matter of `when` than `if` for her.

While a longer shot, Iva Jovic`s potential for a deep run, or even a title, in Australia wouldn`t be entirely shocking. The 17-year-old, who was the 2024 Australian Open junior champion, recently won her first career title at the 500-level Guadalajara Open. As the youngest champion on tour this season, she has entered the top 40 in rankings. We`ve certainly witnessed more unexpected winners in recent years.

Top Men`s Contenders: Sinner, Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic

Before delving deeper, it`s clear that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will be the dominant favorites at every major tournament in the foreseeable future. They have collectively won every Grand Slam title over the past two seasons, a trend unlikely to change soon. Novak Djokovic, a 24-time major champion, remains the next strongest contender despite being 38, with a significant gap between him and the rest of the field, at least for now.

The achievements of the 24-year-old Sinner and 22-year-old Alcaraz are remarkable, as are those of Djokovic, who reached the semifinals at every major this year. However, this dominance might lead to less surprising predictions.

Sinner is the two-time defending Australian Open champion. Could he be the first man since Djokovic to win three consecutive titles? Absolutely! He`s a strong favorite heading into the tournament.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz, much like Swiatek, aims to complete his career Grand Slam by winning his first Australian Open title. Now the world No. 1, with recent US Open and Cincinnati titles, he appears to have closed the hard-court gap with Sinner and is poised to surpass his previous best quarterfinal result.

Djokovic, a 10-time champion in Australia with his most recent win in 2023, continues his pursuit of the all-time record for major titles. However, he acknowledges the immense challenge posed by the new `Big Two`.

Best Chance for a First-Time Slam Champion: Ben Shelton and Zverev

Ben Shelton, 22, appears to have one of the best chances to challenge Alcaraz and Sinner at the majors, particularly in Melbourne on his preferred hard surface. The current world No. 6 reached the semifinals this season and won the Canadian Open in August. Assuming his shoulder is fully recovered from his US Open third-round retirement, he possesses the potential to upset the favorites.

Alexander Zverev, a 2025 finalist and three-time major finalist, expressed uncertainty about winning a Slam after his loss to Sinner last year in Melbourne. Since then, he reached the quarters in Paris, exited early at Wimbledon in the first round, and in the third round at the US Open. Melbourne could potentially be the venue for his turnaround.

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French Open

When: May 24 – June 7

Where: Paris, France

Defending Champions: Gauff and Alcaraz

Top Women`s Contenders: Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka

Iga Swiatek, a four-time Roland Garros champion, was the overwhelming favorite for the 2025 title before a surprising semifinal loss to Sabalenka. Despite this setback, Swiatek is likely to be the top favorite in Paris once again, determined to reaffirm her status as the `Queen of Clay`.

Coco Gauff has consistently proven her talent on clay, reaching the finals in Madrid and Rome leading up to the French Open. She will be aiming for her first consecutive major title.

Aryna Sabalenka, whom Gauff defeated in the final, will also be looking to avenge her three-set loss in the championship match and demonstrate her ability to win on natural surfaces.

Best Chance for a First-Time Slam Champion: Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen

The 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva reached the 2024 Paris semifinals and followed up with a quarterfinal appearance this season (also reaching the doubles semifinals). Having won two 1000-level tournaments this season, she is primed for a major breakthrough, and a title seems inevitable. Could 2026 be her year?

Jasmine Paolini, a 2024 French Open (and Wimbledon) finalist, didn`t quite replicate her singles success in 2025 but won the doubles title in Paris and clinched the trophy at her home clay tournament in Rome. She remains a formidable force on clay in both singles and doubles. Zheng Qinwen, who earned 2024 Olympic gold at Roland Garros, has been sidelined since Wimbledon with an elbow injury and subsequent surgery but is expected to return later this month.

Top Men`s Contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic

Yes, these three again. In 2025, Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, fought back to win the title against Jannik Sinner in an epic final lasting five hours and 29 minutes. Many tennis fans will eagerly anticipate a rematch, which is highly probable. Alcaraz holds an advantage on clay, but Sinner, having just returned from a three-month suspension in May, is likely to be an even more formidable opponent in 2026 on this surface, driven by the desire to complete his career Grand Slam.

Novak Djokovic is a three-time Roland Garros champion, with his most recent title in 2023. He dropped only one set en route to the 2025 semifinals before falling to Sinner in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3).

Best Chance for a First-Time Slam Champion: Lorenzo Musetti, Zverev, Holger Rune

Lorenzo Musetti had an impressive 2025 clay season. He reached the semifinals in Paris for the first time, even taking the opening set against Alcaraz before retiring with an injury in the fourth. He also made it to the final of the 1000-level Monte Carlo Masters and the semifinals in Madrid and Rome. At just 23, he is expected to continue improving and become an even stronger contender in 2026.

Alexander Zverev, a 2024 finalist, won the 500-level title in Munich in April and has reached at least the quarterfinals in seven French Open appearances. It remains one of his strongest tournaments, and if he is to win a major, Roland Garros is a likely venue. Holger Rune, 22, was once grouped with Alcaraz and Sinner but has not achieved comparable success. Nevertheless, he has performed strongly on clay, including winning the Barcelona title this year with a victory over Alcaraz, and has reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals twice.

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Wimbledon

When: June 29 – July 12

Where: London, United Kingdom

Defending Champions: Swiatek and Sinner

Top Women`s Contenders: Swiatek, Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina

Given her limited grass-court experience due to her extensive clay season, few anticipated Iga Swiatek would win the trophy at the All England Club. However, after her slightly earlier-than-expected exit at Roland Garros, Swiatek focused on grass, and it paid off. Having played only three main draws on grass before Wimbledon, she reached the Bad Homburg final in a warm-up event, then dominated Wimbledon, winning the title with a stunning performance, including a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Anisimova in the final. She had never advanced past the quarterfinals previously. While she expressed doubt about repeating the feat, her game`s successful adaptation to grass makes her a strong favorite next year.

Aryna Sabalenka, a three-time semifinalist, was deeply disappointed by her loss to Anisimova in the semis but vowed to return stronger. Wimbledon remains the only major where she hasn`t reached the final, and she is expected to prioritize changing that in 2026.

Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion, has experienced fluctuating fortunes at the All England Club and elsewhere since her triumph. She reached the 2023 quarterfinals, the 2024 semifinals, but suffered an upset in the third round this year. Nevertheless, she remains a perennial contender on grass and possesses the experience required to win at the historic venue.

Best Chance for a First-Time Slam Champion: Anisimova, Andreeva

Amanda Anisimova displayed masterful tennis in her first six matches at the All England Club this year, particularly in her compelling 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal victory over Sabalenka, where she held her nerve during critical moments. Having also reached her first grass-court final at Queen`s Club in June, Anisimova has proven her capability on the surface. Despite a less-than-ideal final, her gracious demeanor and speech made her a fan favorite, and she should be a strong contender in 2026.

Mirra Andreeva, who reached the fourth round in her 2023 Wimbledon debut, achieved her best result this year by reaching the quarterfinals. She narrowly lost to Belinda Bencic in two tiebreaks, missing out on the semifinals, but this experience in tight matches will undoubtedly benefit her future development.

Top Men`s Contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz won the Wimbledon title in 2023 and 2024, defeating Djokovic in both finals, and seemed destined for a three-peat before Jannik Sinner played spoiler in the 2025 final. After losing the first set, Sinner rallied to win in four sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4), dropping only one set throughout the entire tournament.

Although Alcaraz finished as runner-up, he boasts an impressive 35-4 career record on grass and is a four-time champion on the surface, including the 2025 Queen`s Club event. His loss to Sinner marked his first defeat in a grass-court final.

Novak Djokovic is a seven-time Wimbledon champion. Despite losing to Sinner in straight sets in the 2025 semifinals, this tournament still appears to be his best opportunity to break the all-time major titles record, though the challenge will intensify in 2026.

Best Chance for a First-Time Slam Champion: Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper

Taylor Fritz, a long-standing leader among American men and their prime hope to end a 22-year major drought, has come close. He reached the 2024 US Open final and achieved his first semifinal appearance at the All England Club this year, following two previous quarterfinal runs. Fritz is a five-time grass-court champion, including titles this year at Eastbourne (his fourth) and Stuttgart. While his closest major achievement was in New York, grass might be his strongest surface, and his experience could lead to surprising victories.

Jack Draper, the home favorite, is also one to watch; the crowd would undoubtedly cherish a deep run from him. He ended his 2025 season early due to an arm injury but is expected to return for the start of 2026. While he has never progressed past the second round at Wimbledon, he reached the 2024 US Open semifinals and has shown promise on grass with a 2024 final appearance in Stuttgart and a semifinal run at Queen`s Club this year.

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US Open

When: August 30 – September 13

Where: New York

Defending Champions: Sabalenka and Alcaraz

Top Women`s Contenders: Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek, Osaka

The conclusion of the season often presents challenges such as fatigue, motivation, and injuries, but the top-ranked women are expected to remain favorites at the year`s final Grand Slam.

Aryna Sabalenka, now a two-time defending champion, has captivated the New York crowd. Confident and at ease at the tournament, she will fiercely contend for a three-peat.

Coco Gauff, the 2023 champion, will be determined to prove that her fourth-round exits this year and last were anomalies. If her serving issues are behind her, she stands as strong a chance as anyone to win the title.

Iga Swiatek, the 2022 champion, and Naomi Osaka, the 2018 and 2020 champion, will also be aiming to conclude their 2026 seasons with a trophy. Swiatek matched her best result since her win with a quarterfinal run this year, clearly believing she could have gone further. It was also evident how much reaching the semifinals meant to the 27-year-old Osaka this year, and that experience is likely to fuel her aspirations for next season.

Best Chance for a First-Time Slam Champion: Anisimova, Karolina Muchova, Victoria Mboko

After her strong Wimbledon performance, Amanda Anisimova continued her impressive form by reaching the US Open final. She convincingly avenged her quarterfinal loss to Swiatek (6-4, 6-3) and then defeated Osaka in a hard-fought semifinal (6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3). While she couldn`t maintain the same level against Sabalenka in the 6-3, 7-6(3) final, her valiant effort in the second set, forcing a tiebreak, highlighted her progress and mental resilience. Winning the 2026 title would cap off her ultimate comeback following her break from the sport in 2023.

Karolina Muchova is a two-time US Open semifinalist and reached the quarterfinals this year. As the 2023 French Open runner-up, she consistently contends, even when impacted by injuries or periods of inactivity. Her versatile game and sheer athleticism make her a formidable opponent wherever she plays.

The 19-year-old Victoria Mboko had a disappointing first-round exit at the US Open this year, but her incredible performance in winning the Canadian Open title made her a rising star. She began the year outside the top 300 and is now No. 23, with her game continuously improving. Expect more breakthrough performances from the Canadian in 2026.

Top Men`s Contenders: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic

Both Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, and Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, demonstrated dominant performances on their paths to the final in New York.

Alcaraz, with his continually improving serve, did not drop a set and lost only two service games, defeating Djokovic 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the semifinals. Sinner was pushed to four sets twice but rarely appeared troubled. Alexander Bublik, the tournament`s No. 23 seed, likened him to A.I. after a convincing 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 loss in the fourth round.

Alcaraz overpowered Sinner for much of the final, dropping only one set and one service game to claim the title, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling rematch in 2026.

Novak Djokovic is a four-time victor in New York. It`s difficult to predict his performance or future statements at this stage next year, but he is expected to give his utmost effort.

Best Chance for a First-Time Slam Champion: Shelton, Fritz, Draper, Felix Auger-Aliassime

Ben Shelton, beloved by the American crowd for his powerful game, impressive serve, and showmanship, reached the 2023 semifinals. Many believed he could replicate that this season before his injury. He has proven his strength on hard courts and his ability to thrive with crowd support, making him a strong candidate among those outside the `Big Two` to win a major trophy in 2026.

Taylor Fritz, two years removed from his final appearance, will also aim for success at a venue he knows well. Similarly, fellow former semifinalists Jack Draper and Felix Auger-Aliassime will be contenders. Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian, fought back after losing the first set to Sinner in the semifinals this year, ultimately falling in four sets. As a winner of two 2025 hard-court titles, Auger-Aliassime will enter the new season with increased confidence, which could benefit him in New York next September.