The global tennis circuit is poised for a transformative year as the 2026 season commences, with the formidable duo of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz—colloquially dubbed ‘Sincaraz’—expected to maintain their commanding presence at the pinnacle of the sport. Their inaugural confrontation is scheduled for an exhibition match in South Korea on January 10, serving as their sole preparatory event ahead of the Australian Open commencing just eight days later.
This season’s opening unfolds with the United Cup, a mixed-team championship hosted in Perth and Sydney, featuring prominent contenders including women’s world number two Iga Swiatek and men’s world number three Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, pursuing her third Melbourne Park title, initiates her campaign at the Brisbane International amidst a competitive field that includes reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys and fourth-ranked Amanda Anisimova.
The compelling rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner reached a crescendo in the previous season. Although the Spanish sensation Alcaraz clinched the year-end world number one ranking, Sinner countered by successfully defending his ATP Finals title. Sinner’s remarkable 2025 season featured an impressive 58-6 win-loss record, including a successful Australian Open title defense and a groundbreaking victory at Wimbledon. Alcaraz mirrored this dominance with a 71-9 record, capturing both the French Open and US Open championships.
Notably, Novak Djokovic approaches what may constitute his final professional season, still pursuing an unprecedented 25th major title at age 38. The Serbian champion has acknowledged the increasing challenge of surpassing either Sinner or Alcaraz in best-of-five Grand Slam encounters, with these two young stars having shared the last eight major titles between them.
The women’s tour similarly promises intense competition, with Sabalenka entering as the undisputed world number one following her second US Open triumph. Despite her favored status for a third Australian Open victory, she anticipates formidable challenges from Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina. The United Cup will additionally feature four-time major champion Naomi Osaka making her debut appearance in the tournament while representing Japan.