The 2026 tennis season is almost here, which means it’s time to make predictions for the four Grand Slams of the year. Will Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have another reign in the biggest events in the world? How much money does Novak Djokovic have left in the tank? Is there a chance for Daniil Medvedev to bounce back? Can super talented players like Joao Fonseca, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Ben Shelton put it all together? Those are some of the questions that will be answered in due course.
Here are my picks.
Australian Open: Jannik Sinner
There is a gap the size of Texas between the top two players in the world and everyone else on the ATP Tour right now. Expecting anything other than Alcaraz or Sinner to win the upcoming Australian Open would be foolish. Of the two, Sinner seems to be the most reliable person in this situation. The second-ranked Italian has been at his best on hard courts and is the two-time defending champion Down Under. Alcaraz, meanwhile, has never even reached the final of the Australian Open and it remains to be seen what kind of impact – if any – his split with Juan Carlos Ferrero has had on his results.
Runner-up (if on opposite side of drawing): Taylor Fritz
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz
In his clay court yards, Alcaraz must have the upper hand over Sinner – and over everyone else. It’s not like the No. 1 country that better on the reds than on hard courts and grass (he also has two Wimbledon titles and two US Open titles, after all), but it’s an area that might give him the best chance against Sinner in particular. Yes, Alcaraz had a triple point against Sinner in the 2025 French Open final – but the 22-year-old was the better player in the final three sets. By the time Roland Garros rolls around, Alcaraz should be comfortable with the new situation in his coaching staff.
Runner-up (if on the other side): Jannik Sinner
Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz
Grass is the surface that often produces the most amazing results, as the margins are small and the consistency is tight. If there is going to be a new Grand Slam winner in 2026, it will probably happen at Wimbledon. I think Daniil Medvedev is on a rebound and is a Wimbledon semifinalist. Going all the way is almost twice as difficult as reaching the finals, as any player may have to hit both Sinner and Alcaraz would reach the finals of the major. Appearing in the championship game, however, is true for an outsider. As for the champion, I think Alcaraz can reclaim his throne at the All-England Club following his loss to Sinner this past summer. Alcaraz has reached three consecutive Wimbledon finals, winning two of them.
Runner-up (if on the other side): Daniil Medvedev
US Open: Jannik Sinner
Although Alcaraz got the best of Sinner in the 2025 US Open final, it’s hard to argue that the 24-year-old is the king of hard courts. Of his four Grand Slam titles so far, three have come on the harder stuff (two for the Aussies, one for the US). Sinner has not lost before a hard-court final since the 2023 US Open (a five-set marathon against Alexander Zverev in the fourth round). Either way, another Alcaraz vs. Sinner of the title feels close to a slam dunk. Perhaps the only thing that can get in the way is a possible physical problem – which always happens in that last part of the tennis season.
Runner-up (if on opposite side): Carlos Alcaraz
It feels right to bring back another two-two split of four Grand Slam titles for Alcaraz and Sinner. I think everyone has at least a year left. Still, an outsider or two in a slam final makes sense – the most likely scenarios will come at the Australian Open (players are rusty and Alcaraz could be vulnerable) and Wimbledon (grass). I’m going with the top two players in the world to continue to dominate tennis while at least a few challengers bring enough to the table to keep things interesting.
