The first Grand Slam of the year runs January 18–February 1 at Melbourne Park on hard courts, with Jannik Sinner favourite to defend his title, Carlos Alcaraz close behind, and Aryna Sabalenka leading the women's market
.Defending champions Men's singles: Jannik Sinner (Italy, back-to-back winner); Women's singles: Madison Keys (USA, maiden major in 2025). Latest betting lines & value picks available now!
Australian Open 2026 Favourites
Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner is a hot favourite in the 2026 Australian Open odds, and it is hard to see past him securing a third straight men’s singles title in Melbourne. The Italian ace isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, so he probably hasn’t had the credit he deserves for securing four grand slam victories overall.
Sinner triumphed at the 2024 US Open and got the better of Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s Wimbledon decider. His rivalry with Alcaraz hasn’t quite caught the public’s imagination in the same way as clashes between Roger Feder, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic lit up the sport, but there is no doubt they are dominating men’s tennis right now.
They also met in the ATP Finals title decider, when Sinner claimed a tight straight sets success, whereas Alcaraz came out on top in the 2025 French and US Open finals.
Other Contenders
Other Contenders
An ever-ageing Djokovic appears unlikely to get in the way of another championship battle between the big two, and it is Sinner who gets the nod at 20/23 in our 2026 Australian Open predictions.
Alcaraz, available at 8/5, did enjoy a 4-2 edge in head-to-head meetings last term, including their iconic five-and-a-half-hour clash at Roland Garros.
Both are comfortable on hard courts overall, but 24-year-old Sinner seems particularly suited to the conditions in Melbourne, while Alcaraz has yet to get past the quarter-finals in four past visits.
Women's Odds
Gauff Rated Value Pick To Upset Sabalenka
From a betting point of view, the women’s singles tournament provides punters with a much more interesting conundrum at each grand slam event.
Aryna Sabalenka is a worthy 2/1 favourite in the 2026 Australian Open odds on the back of her strong Melbourne record, having lifted this trophy in 2023 and 2024 before missing out in last year’s final against Madison Keys, who is 18/1 to successfully defend her title.
Sabalenka went on to claim a second straight US Open triumph and has the power to overwhelm any opponent on hard courts if at her best.
Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek
Wimbledon winner and four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek has yet to sparkle on this particular surface and can be backed at 5/1 alongside All England Club and Flushing Meadows finalist Amanda Anisimova, who has only reached round four here.
Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff
Some might say Coco Gauff also comes under the same category of being unconvincing at Rod Laver Arena, but the American did give Sabalenka all kinds of problems in the 2024 semis before going down 7-6, 6-4.
Gauff got the better of the world number one in three-set classics in the 2023 US Open final and last year’s French Open decider, so there is no question of her quaking under Sabalenka’s pressure tactics.
The 21-year-old was ultra-impressive when recently brushing aside Swiatek 6-4 6-2 at the United Cup in Sydney, her fourth straight win against Poland’s world number two. On that evidence, Gauff is well worth adding to our 2026 Australian Open betting tips at a tasty 8/1 for outright glory.
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