🏆 Brisbane (WTA 500)

Aryna Sabalenka (1) def. Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4 Sabalenka rolls into Melbourne with exactly the momentum she wanted. Didn't wobble once this week and handled Kostyuk's power game with characteristic aggression. The defending Australian Open champion looks locked in.

🏆 Brisbane (ATP 250)

Daniil Medvedev (1) def. Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6(1) Between this title and his trophy-taking run in Almaty last fall, it looks like that new coaching arrangement with Thomas Johansson is going well. Now... can they keep the momentum going at a slam?

🏆 Hong Kong (ATP 250)

Alexander Bublik (2) def. Lorenzo Musetti (1) 7-6(2), 6-3 Another heartbreaker for the Italian, who falls to 7 straight losses in ATP finals. But, for his efforts, Bublik will crack the top 10.

🏆 Auckland (WTA 250)

Elina Svitolina (1) def. Wang Xinyu (7) 6-3, 7-6(6) After shutting down her season shortly after the US Open last year, the Ukrainian comes back with a vengeance in Auckland. No top seed wants to see her in their AO draw.

🏆 United Cup — Final

Poland def. Switzerland 2-1 Katarzyna Kawa & Jan Zielinski clinched it in the decisive mixed doubles rubber. In a tie dominated by slam champions and top 10 players, Kawa steps up with nerves of steel in deciding match after deciding match. One to watch in AO qualifying.

👀 Sabalenka the Supreme Undefeated heading into Melbourne once again. And, though that streak didn't translate to an AO title last year, it's hard to see anyone challenging her before (at least) the semis... if at all.

❓ So Many Questions! Amanda Anisimova lost meekly. Jessie Pegula lost hard. (Then withdrew from Adelaide.) Novak Djokovic is anywhere but a tennis court. And, Carlos & Jannik are still doing exos in Asia. Lots of uncertainty before play starts on Rod Laver Arena.

🔥 Svitolina the Dark Horse She showed us a little bit of everything in Auckland, from defense to domination. The Ukrainian feels ready for a another grand slam upset soon.

⚠️ A NextGen Preview in Canberra Alexander Blockx defeating Raphael Jodar for the Canberra Challenger title was an early-season glimpse at two players we're sure to hear a LOT about in 2026. Both playing AO qualies.

🎾 Australian Open Qualifying

The first slam of the season is already here! And, play gets going "tonight" (for us self-centered Americans) in Melbourne. Lots of storylines to follow from juniors on the rise to former slam champions on the comeback trail.

Kei Nishikori, the former world #4, grinds through qualifying at age 36. Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, enters a slam qualifying field for the first time in 15 years.

🎾 Adelaide (WTA 500)

Seeds: Madison Keys, Mirra Andreeva, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Clara Tauson, Emma Navarro, Liudmila Samasonova, Victoria Mboko, Diana Shnaider

Keys starts the daunting journey to defend 2500 points over the next 3 weeks. And, with this field, it will NOT be easy.

Unseeded & Dangerous: Too many to count

🎾 Auckland (ATP 250) Seeds: Ben Shelton, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik, Luciano Darderi, Cameron Norrie, Alex Michelsen, Sebastian Baez, Nuno Borges

Shelton and Ruud bring the biggest star power. But, I'm more interested to see if Baez can bring his newfound hardcourt swagger to New Zealand.

Unseeded & Dangerous: Alejandro Tabilo (2024 champ), Gael Monfils (2025 champ), Aleks Kovacevic (Brisbane semifinalist)

🎾 Adelaide (ATP 250)

Seeds: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Tommy Paul, Francisco Cerundolo, Tallon Griekspoor, Valentin Vacherot, Brandon Nakashima, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tomas Machac

Fewer tip-top stars in this draw compared to Auckland, but filled with names who could walk away with the title. Reilly Opelka vs. Alexei Popyrin in round 1 feels un-pickable.

Unseeded & Dangerous: Sebastian Korda, Ugo Humbert, Gabriel Diallo

🎾 Hobart (WTA 250)

Seeds: Emma Raducanu, McCartney Kessler, Iva Jovic, Ann Li, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Tatjana Maria, Emiliana Arango, Magda Linette

Forget the seeds, Venus Williams is here. And, at 45, she's playing 38yo Maria in the opening round. I am seated. (Plus, Raducanu is the top seed at a WTA event for the first time.)

Unseeded & Dangerous: Barbora Krejcikova, Venus THEE Williams, Hailey Baptiste