2026 Australian Open betting preview – Odds, favourites & predictions (ATP & WTA)

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: January 15, 2026

The tennis season starts with its first Grand Slam of the year. Australian Open 2026 is kicking off on 18 January, with matches played at Melbourne Park. The Australian summer heat and hard courts make this tournament a real challenge early in the season. This will be a test of preparation and raw talent for all the players.

In this article, we break down the Australian Open 2026 winner odds for both men's and women's singles. We'll look closely at the main favourites and potential outsiders who can surprise everyone. The tennis stars, such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Aryna Sabalenka, will be returning to start the season with a bang.

Fresh off his 2025 Melbourne title, Jannik Sinner opens as the clear favourite at 1.90. Close behind is Carlos Alcaraz at 2.62, with betting sites once again framing the familiar two-horse race at the very top of the odds. Pretty far behind are Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, who didn't show the same level of results last year.

Favourites to win the men's 2026 Australian Open

The men's singles race at the Australian Open is once again built around a small group of elite contenders. Below, we break down their current form, Melbourne track record, and overall chances of lifting the trophy.

Jannik Sinner

Sinner doesn't need much introduction heading into Melbourne. He has won the Australian Open for the last two years. Later in the 2025 season, he added a Wimbledon title, beating Alcaraz and becoming the first Italian man ever to win the tournament. He finished the Grand Slam season as runner-up at the US Open, falling short at the final hurdle. However, his last competitive appearance was at the ATP Finals, where he went unbeaten and didn't drop a set.

Sinner remains the most reliable Grand Slam performer on the hard courts, and his chances to win a third Australian Open in a row look very real. He can handle the conditions, the pressure, and the long two-week grind in Melbourne.

Sin's City!

Jannik reigns supreme to capture second #AusOpen crown!@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/RnIJ8HBcrE

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Despite already winning six Grand Slam titles, the Australian Open remains the only Major Alcaraz hasn't won. He has never gone beyond the quarterfinal stage here. Looks like the reason is the timing of the tournament. Carlos has admitted that he needs more time to catch the rhythm before he fully settles.

That context matters because his overall level is unquestionable. Alcaraz finished 2025 as ATP World No.1, posting a 71-9 record and lifting eight titles, including two Grand Slams. If he starts fast this time around, the Australian Open could finally be the missing piece of his career Grand Slam puzzle.

CARLOS ALACARAZ INSANE pic.twitter.com/icnEn3GSVi

— Barstool Tennis (@StoolTennis) October 29, 2024

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic announced that he is withdrawing from the Adelaide warm-up event because he is not physically ready yet. This gives him time to focus fully on his preparation for Melbourne. A 10-time Australian Open champion won his most recent title here in 2023, and he still feels completely at home on Rod Laver Arena. Not to mention, he is 38 years old and still going.

The injuries have become more frequent for Djokovic. That's why it's a good thing he manages his schedule carefully. His baseline is still there, and the level remains elite. He proved it last season by reaching the semifinals in all four Grand Slams. Winning a five-set battle against either Sinner or Alcaraz would be a huge challenge, but if his body holds, Djokovic can be a threat to the new generation.

Alexander Zverev

The 2025 season wasn't the strongest for Alexander, but his biggest result actually came in Melbourne. He reached the Australian Open final as the second seed and ultimately lost to Sinner. He won the Bavarian Open, reached the round of 16 in Madrid, and made the French Open quarter-finals, where Djokovic stopped him.

Even so, Zverev still finished the season ranked third in the ATP, which says plenty about his baseline consistency. He's young enough to keep improving, and already experienced enough to handle long Slam runs. Last year's final should give him the belief he can do it again, this time for the title.

ATP Australian Open winner prediction

Our prediction for the Australian Open 2026 points towards Carlos Alcaraz. The adjustments he made throughout last season feel deliberately set towards Melbourne. He has openly stated that winning at this tournament is his main target right now. If Carlos brings the same level he showed during his dominant run at the US Open, his only real obstacle is Sinner. Here comes the motivation factor, as this is the only Grand Slam Carlos is missing in his collection, but Sinner has already proved himself twice in Melbourne. That extra hunger could make the difference.

The women's market is led by Aryna Sabalenka at 3.00, reflecting her hard-court dominance and recent Slam success. Iga Swiatek follows at 6.00, with Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff heading a deep, competitive chasing pack.

Favourites to win women's 2026 Australian Open

The women's draw at the Australian Open feels far more open, and the odds surely reflect that. Several players arrive in Melbourne with realistic title claims. Below, we break down the leading contenders and their form.

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka remains one of the most intimidating names in the women's draw. Her 2025 season wasn't without setbacks, including a painful Australian Open semi-final exit, but the bigger picture still points to dominance. Sabalenka won the US Open and finished the year ranked No.1, showing dominance at the very top level.

Her powerful serve and first-strike aggression consistently put opponents under immediate pressure, especially in Melbourne's fast conditions. A two-time Australian Open champion knows exactly how to win here. Minor injuries and fatigue cropped up last season, but if Sabalenka is physically right, another deep run in Melbourne feels inevitable.

Can't start the year any better 🔥🐯

Aryna Sabalenka dominates Bucsa 6-1, 6-0 to begin her 2026 campaign.#BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/sFteEPY6Qy

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 6, 2026

Iga Swiatek

Iga is one of the most reliable forces on the women's tour, even if Melbourne hasn't been her happiest hunting ground. She has never gone beyond the semi-finals at the Australian Open, with last year ending at that stage again. However, there are clear signs of progress. Swiatek had a strong 2025 season, winning her first Wimbledon title and finishing second in the year-end rankings.

Her game continues to evolve on hard courts, where the heavy topspin forehand allows her to control matches. First, she has to survive a draw packed with aggressive power hitters early on. If she does, her deep run remains very realistic.

First win of the year! pic.twitter.com/5TzrvXr2uq

— Out of Context Iga Świątek (@SwiatekOOC) January 5, 2026

Coco Gauff

Melbourne remains a tough challenge for Coco Gauff. She reached the quarterfinals at last year's Australian Open, but lost to Paula Badosa. Her overall 2025 season marked a clear step forward. The standout moment came at the French Open, where she defeated Sabalenka in the final to claim her second Grand Slam title.

Gauff also won the Wuhan Open, beating Jessica Pegula to secure her third WTA 1000 win. However, her momentum slipped later on, when she failed to progress beyond the round of 16 at the WTA Finals. She is now ranked No.3 and keeps improving her serve and heavy groundstrokes. Although she is young, Gauff has the potential of causing problems to any of her opponents.

Elena Rybakina

Rybakina didn't fully deliver at the Grand Slam level in 2025, failing to reach any Slam final. She often comes short in key moments, despite holding winning positions. However, her overall level never dipped.

The turning point was her finishing the year on a huge high by winning the WTA Finals, beating Amanda Anisimova, Iga Swiatek, and Jessica Pegula. In the final, she outplayed Sabalenka in straight sets. Her flat groundstrokes and serve-first approach make her very effective on hard courts. She finished 2025 ranked world No.5. If she carries that form into Melbourne, a deep Australian Open run is guaranteed.

WTA US Open winner prediction

Our pick on the women's side is Swiatek. Her 2025 season showed clear progress, capped by a phenomenal performance at Wimbledon. This proves she can now win on the biggest stages outside her comfort zone. Melbourne has always been a tougher test. If her improvements on hard courts and elite movement carry over, a deep run is a must, and a win is 100% possible.

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