2026 Australian Open - Women's Discussion

[Mark-Touch]

G'day Mates!

It was just about a year today, Maddy Keys took flight Down Under to play.
She's been going in and out of style, but she's guaranteed to raise a smile.

Can she defend her title from last year?
Who has a realistic chance of winning this year?

All WTA discussion (singles and doubles) pre-A.O., during A.O. and post-A.O. is welcome!

Here's a link to the singles draw.

Qualies will start next week and the tournament begins Sunday, January 18.

Oh and don't forget, this year cash is no longer king at the A.O.
AO26 will be entirely cashless!
So if you will be attending live, come prepared.

If you do choose 'Other' in the Poll and you have someone in particular in mind, please let us know who the player is.

 

[Mark-Touch]

Here's a link to the Qualifying draw.
8 Australian wildcards.
1 French swap wildcard. Was a guaranteed arrangement.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Sloane switched to Technic Fibre now?

 

[tennis24x7]

I don't think Keys has ever defended a title(just throwing a guess), will never happen in a slam. I will be surprised if she even makes it to the semis. Hopefully Anisimova can snag one.

 

[D-Lite]

Sloane switched to Technic Fibre now?

And breaks her losing streak - although I'm not sure if qualies counts as it's not main draw? Still, it's a win at this point.

 

[tennis24x7]

And breaks her losing streak - although I'm not sure if qualies counts as it's not main draw? Still, it's a win at this point.

Sloane switched to Technic Fibre now?

I thought she retired, is she playing again, WTF is she doing?

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Surprised that Sonobe is not in the qualies.

 

[D-Lite]

I thought she retired, is she playing again, WTF is she doing?

SS had a broken foot last year when she was on a significant losing streak - 11 loses I believe. She lost R1 in Auckland and now finally got a W in R1 of AO Qualifying. Hopefully she's back and hungry for a serious last hurrah otherwise stepping into broadcasting would be a wise idea.

 

[Larry Duff]

Harry Dart through to the 2nd round of qualies. Served for the match in the 3rd and at 40 love lost the next 4 points but righted the ship again.

 

[tennis24x7]

Harry Dart through to the 2nd round of qualies. Served for the match in the 3rd and at 40 love lost the next 4 points but righted the ship again.

Her time has passed. Don't think she will even make it through qualies.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Sloane in the final Q facing dangerous Bronzetti.

Sonmez cruising through, hopefully she qualify.

 

[Larry Duff]

Her time has passed. Don't think she will even make it through qualies.

Harry out, probably now on the flight home complaining about the aromas from her fellow passengers.

 

[tennis24x7]

Harry out, probably now on the flight home complaining about the aromas from her fellow passengers.

Lol, she has all the time now to shop for the best gas masks. I think she should focus only on 250s, maybe win couple.

 

[tennis24x7]

Just saw that the latest one hander Lilly is still alive in qualies. Hopefully she makes it to the main draw.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Sloane and Sonmez through!

 

[HarveyPitnik]

^ Elegant Turk cruised easily through her three qualies matches.

Nice fighting win by "Fruity1"! But she has to work enormously in her matches and thus she should make that change in her game that start playing closer to the baseline and take more the balls on the rise. It's not easy change, but could be achieved and would help her in the future in many ways.

Czech player Linda Klimovicova (that for some reason changed her nationality to Polish) keeps surprising me. Seen her in two small tournaments and was not too impressed by her game but ranking is already higher I ever imagined she could reach and going through these qualies another reason to be amazed. She has live very, very young looking face.

Also through qualies Spanish Guiomar Maristany Zuleta De Reales! I hope she doesn't become high ranked player as that name is quite a monster and I admit I copy-pasted it!

 

[RSJfan]

Nice win by Storm Hunter to qualify over Townsend.

 

[MichaelNadal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011659638014374387

Lawd

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

^ Elegant Turk cruised easily through her three qualies matches.

Nice fighting win by "Fruity1"! But she has to work enormously in her matches and thus she should make that change in her game that start playing closer to the baseline and take more the balls on the rise. It's not easy change, but could be achieved and would help her in the future in many ways.

Czech player Linda Klimovicova (that for some reason changed her nationality to Polish) keeps surprising me. Seen her in two small tournaments and was not too impressed by her game but ranking is already higher I ever imagined she could reach and going through these qualies another reason to be amazed. She has live very, very young looking face.

Also through qualies Spanish Guiomar Maristany Zuleta De Reales! I hope she doesn't become high ranked player as that name is quite a monster and I admit I copy-pasted it!

She got Alexandrova who struggled this season for R1. Good chance.

 

[marc45]

Iga's got a rough ride

 

[tx10is]

they have kenin playing my Longhorn Stearns

muchova has tricky one with j.Cristian

jovic v volynets

expect olga to crush v.williams

good time to have espn+

 

[Mark-Touch]

I was delighted to see Stakusic stand firm and take out the tough Zhu in straights no less!

 

[robyrolfo]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011659638014374387

Lawd

Funny how Coco Gauff looks EXACTLY the same now as she did at 15

... good time to have espn+

They have the US rights? I might have to subscribe again for the month.

 

[vwanderaa]

The Sabalenka - Gauff semifinal will be the real final. I think Sabalenka will wins (again) but I’m hoping Gauff

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

they have kenin playing my Longhorn Stearns

muchova has tricky one with j.Cristian

jovic v volynets

expect olga to crush v.williams

good time to have espn+

ESPN* is a must. My fave Vekic gets Andreeva in the first round. Tough.

 

[robyrolfo]

The Sabalenka - Gauff semifinal will be the real final. I think Sabalenka will wins (again) but I’m hoping Gauff

Gauff isn't making the semis.

 

[MichaelNadal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011650245608763667

#TeamAryna

 

[tx10is]

They have the US rights? I might have to subscribe again for the month.

yes espn+ is best way to see all the courts

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Gauff isn't making the semis.

If she isn't, I really hope it's Vondrousova.

I haven't that convinced that Mirra will score her first win over Gauff.

 

[spystud]

Early action.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

The Ukrainian streaming site allowing quick switching of matches at very good clarity is back in a new version.
---
It still works but I hope they fix the website soon.

PC: https://1xsone.com/sportzone/SportZone_1.5.1.exe [download and install by clicking twice]
Android: https://1xsone.com/sportzone/SportZone_1.2.3.apk
IOS: https://1xsone.com/sportzone/SportZone_1.6.1.dmg
----
Seems OK, but it's your responsibility as to viruses, etc.
Once installed, open the program. It generates its own browsing window.
Click on top left triangle.
Select Tennis.
Select tournament.
Select match
Click Play.

 

[HarveyPitnik]

Haven't people noticed that the main draw matches are already on? Easy on the eyes line-up in many matches on the first day: Ruse, Yastremska, Kostyuk, Sönmez, PolinaK. , Svitolina. McNally etc. (Oh, and that concentration camp-girl for IBBI ! )

One of my faves, Ruse, should have already won against Yastremska but of course she let Dayana back in the match while serving for the match. In the case that Dayana can produce her best tennis later in that tournament, I don't mind if she turns this match.
Edit. Dayana's return to match was only short lived and Ruse won 6-4, 7-5

First player with a victory in this year's AO was Aussie Wild Card Talia Gibson (against Blinkova)! Must be a rare treat for wild card-player that kind of honor.

 

[spystud]

4 & 2 for Sakkari over Jeanjean.

1 & 2 for Jasmine over Sasnovich.

Yulia v. BHM playing 3.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Vondrousova withdrew, Townsend gets her spot as a LL.

 

[Mark-Touch]

I could swear I saw Cornet in the stands cheering for Jacquemot.

 

[spystud]

Vondrousova withdrew

Words you can type just about any tourney.

 

[spystud]

4 & 1 for Elina over Bucsa.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Of course Kostyuk just suddenly struggling

 

[spystud]

This 9th game in the decider is some blisteringly terrible tennis.

 

[spystud]

Frenchie finally holds to 5-4.

 

[spystud]

Frenchie is losing her sh*t.

 

[spystud]

But she somehow holds to 6-5.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

that backhand miss so wild, my my Kostyuk is terrible

 

[spystud]

Now Marta rolled her ankle, ouch.

 

[spystud]

This is gonna take awhile.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

and rolled her ankle

 

[spystud]

Just call it, she should have destroyed this opponent 90 minutes ago.

 

[spystud]

She’s healed!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

She’s healed!

guess that ice and elevated helped lol

 

[spystud]

Third breaker will decide it, Marta’s magic ankle appears fine.