The 2026 Australian Open kicks off Sunday at Melbourne Park with a record $75 million prize pool and defending champions Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner returning to defend their titles.
At a Glance
- Singles play starts Sunday at 11 a.m. local time (7 p.m. Saturday EST)
- Prize money jumped 16% to 111.5 million Australian dollars
- Venus Williams, 45, becomes oldest woman to compete in main draw
- Why it matters: The season’s first Grand Slam offers the richest payout in tennis history
How to Watch the Australian Open
Fans can catch every serve and volley on ESPN and Tennis Channel in the United States. International viewing options are available through local broadcasters.
The tournament features outdoor hard court action at Melbourne Park, nestled along the Yarra River near downtown Melbourne. Three showcourts – Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena – boast retractable roofs for uninterrupted play.
Defending Champions Return
Madison Keys captured her first Grand Slam trophy in 2025, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in a thrilling three-set final. The American’s breakthrough victory ended years of near-misses at major tournaments.
Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Melbourne Park crown, dispatching Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the men’s final. The Italian became the first man since Novak Djokovic to repeat as Australian Open champion.
Sunday’s Opening Day Schedule
Rod Laver Arena hosts the marquee matches, starting with seventh-seeded Jasmine Paolini against Aliaksandra Sasnovich at 11:30 a.m. local time. The afternoon session features men’s No. 3 Alexander Zverev versus Gabriel Diallo.
The night session promises fireworks with top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka facing Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, followed by Carlos Alcaraz against Adam Walton.
Emma Raducanu opens her campaign on Margaret Court Arena against Mananchaya Sawangkaew. Venus Williams closes out Day 1 on John Cain Arena, facing Olga Danilovic in the final match.
Top Seeds and Draw
Aryna Sabalenka enters as the top-seeded woman, while Carlos Alcaraz heads the men’s field. The draw was conducted Thursday, setting the stage for two weeks of intense competition.
Women play best-of-three-set matches with a first-to-10, win-by-two tiebreaker at 6-all in the third set. Men battle through best-of-five sets, with a tiebreaker at 6-all in the fifth.
Prize Money Breakdown
Tennis Australia has increased the total prize pool by 16% to 111.5 million Australian dollars ($75 million), up from 96.5 million Australian dollars in 2025.
The singles champions will each receive 4.15 million Australian dollars ($2.8 million), marking a 19% increase from last year’s winner’s checks.
What’s New in 2026
The tournament introduces “opening week,” opening Melbourne Park to the public from the start of qualifying. Fans enjoyed live music nightly at Grand Slam Oval and watched open practice sessions featuring the sport’s biggest names.
Tennis Australia reports more than 175,000 fans attended from Monday through Friday of opening week. In a stunning upset during pre-tournament activities, a local amateur player defeated Jannik Sinner in the 1 Point Slam promotion, walking away a millionaire in Australian dollars.
Veteran Comebacks
Venus Williams makes history as the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw at 45 years old. She surpasses Kimiko Date’s record, who was 44 when she played Melbourne Park in 2015. Williams received a wild-card entry into the tournament.
Roger Federer returns to Melbourne Park, though not as a competitor. The 20-time Grand Slam champion participates in Saturday night’s opening ceremony. On Friday, Federer practiced with Casper Ruud on Rod Laver Arena for the first time since 2020.
Complete Tournament Schedule
The Australian Open follows a structured format over two weeks:
First Week:
- January 18-20: First Round (Women and Men)
- January 21-22: Second Round (Women and Men)
- January 23-24: Third Round (Women and Men)
- January 25-26: Fourth Round (Women and Men)
Championship Week:
- January 27-28: Quarterfinals (Women and Men)
- January 29: Women’s Semifinals
- January 30: Men’s Semifinals
- January 31: Women’s Final
- February 1: Men’s Final
Melbourne Park Features
The tournament utilizes outdoor hard courts with night sessions, similar to the U.S. Open and French Open. The facility’s three retractable roofs ensure play continues despite Melbourne’s unpredictable weather.
Located along the Yarra River near downtown Melbourne, Melbourne Park transforms into a tennis festival during the Australian summer school break. The tournament’s timing in late January takes advantage of Australia’s summer season.
Key Takeaways
The 2026 Australian Open promises record-breaking action with its largest prize pool in tennis history. Defending champions Keys and Sinner face increased pressure as the sport’s elite converge on Melbourne. Williams’ historic appearance at 45 adds sentimental value, while the tournament’s new opening week format has already drawn record crowds. With $75 million on the line and two weeks of Grand Slam tennis ahead, the Australian Open sets an exhilarating tone for the 2026 tennis season.
