The Tennis Thread 2026

The tennis season starts tomorrow with the United Cup, what are everyone's predictions for the year ahead regarding major winners, breakthrough players, big surprises etc.?

My predictions for the four slams are -

Australian Open - Jannik Sinner/ Aryna Sabalenka

French Open - Carlos Alcaraz/ Iga Swiatek

Wimbledon - Jannik Sinner/ Amanda Anisimova

US Open - Jannik Sinner/ Aryna Sabalenka

ATP Year-End 2026 Top 10 Predictions:

1 - Jannik Sinner

2 - Carlos Alcaraz

3 - Alexander Zverev

4 - Novak Djokovic

5 - Taylor Fritz

6 - Ben Shelton

7 - Lorenzo Musetti

8 - Jack Draper

9 - Casper Ruud

10 - Felix Auger-Aliassime 

Alex de Minaur to drop out of the Top 10 but remain in the Top 15.

Players such as Jiri Lehecka, Jakub Mensik, Joao Fonseca and Flávio Cobolli to all be around 10-15 range.

Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov to remain in the 11-20 zone along with Davidovich Fokina and Bublik.

Holger Rune and Tommy Paul to return from injury successfully. 

Surprise players to have a breakthrough year and enter the Top 30 - Ethan Quinn and Jenson Brooksby.

Lots of top players to have strong comeback years - Dimitrov, Fils, Humbert, Hurkacz, Korda, Berrettini 

WTA Year-End 2026 Top 10 Predictions:

1 - Aryna Sabalenka

2 - Iga Swiatek

3 - Amanda Anisimova

4 - Coco Gauff

5 - Elena Rybakina

6 - Jessica Pegula

7 - Mirra Andreeva 

8 - Belinda Bencic

9 - Victoria Mboko

10 - Jasmine Paolini

Madison Keys to drop out of the Top 10 and drop well down as she struggles to recapture the form of the previous year. Ekaterina Alexandrova to also fall out of the Top 10 but remain in the 11-20 range while Victoria Mboko will establish herself in the Top 10 in her first full season on the main tour. 

Qinwen Zheng to have a strong return from injury and come close to the Top 10 along with Naomi Osaka, Clara Tauson, Liudmila Samsonova and Karolina Muchova. 

ATP Next Gen Finalists 2026 Predictions:

1 - Joao Fonseca

2 - Martin Landaluce

3 - Nicolai Budkov Kjaer

4 - Rafael Jodar

5 - Justin Engel

6 - Rei Sakamoto

7 - Federico Cina

8 - Joel Schwarzler

Darwin Blanch and Henry Bernet as the dark horses.

For the AO this year, having previously supported Alcaraz on his rise up the ranks to double Wimbledon champion, I am changing track to Fritz now as I believe Alcaraz is getting a bit too metro for my taste with the pink sleeveless tops and the whole “I love myself” aesthetic.

There’s only so much flexing, posing and slow‑motion fist pumps you can do before it gets childish. A man can take two rounds before wondering if he’s supporting an athlete or his brand.

Don’t get me wrong, the kid is a phenomenon. His game is outrageous, his movement is ridiculous, and he’s probably going to win another ten Slams before he’s 30. But somewhere along the way the raw and slightly awkward teenager turned into a walking ad campaign. Every match now feels like a cross between a forehand lesson and a fragrance advert.

But as a fan, I find myself drifting toward players who look like they’ve just crawled out of a five‑setter rather than a photoshoot. And before anyone says it, yes, I know the results speak for themselves. He’s still winning. He’s still electric. He’s still the most talented young player on the planet.

So I’m stepping off the Alcaraz train. No hard feelings. No bitterness. Just a quiet acknowledgement that the vibe has changed and I’m looking elsewhere to place my support. He’ll be fine without me.

Is there an Australian Open thread yet? The draw has been made and some cracking first round matches like Dimitrov vs Mahac and De Minaur vs Berrettini.

I see Raducanu has sacked her coach.

Raducanu was 0-5 down....has now won 10 games in a row....

So 7-5 3-0 currently..... frustratingly erratic as usual.

Cirstea a massive step up opponent wise.

Better news for Boulter winning in three sets despite a bad wobble when throwing away the first set.

Djokovic up next for Draper

I think Raducanu is going to sit around the 20 -30 mark. Seems she can't compete with the higher ranked players. Maybe she might be more comfortable with a female coach? A couple of big wins for Kartel against Navarro and then Keys. What has happened to Boulter? She seems to be dropping like a stone. Is it that she is more interested in wedding plans at the minute.

Have only been dipping in and out of Indian Wells. Tiafoe vs Zverev should be a good one to watch tonight if it is shown.