The 2026 tennis season is just around the corner, which means it’s time to make predictions for the four Grand Slams of the year. Will Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz once again have the monopoly on the world’s biggest events? How much does Novak Djokovic have left in the tank? Is there any chance Daniil Medvedev bounces back? Can hugely talented players like Joao Fonseca, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton put it all together? These are just some of the questions that will be answered in due course.
Here are my choices.
Australian Open: Jannik Sinner
There is currently a Texas-sized gap between the two best players in the world and everyone else on the ATP Tour. Expecting anything other than an Alcaraz or Sinner win at the upcoming Australian Open would be foolish. Of the two, Sinner seems like the much more reliable guy in this particular situation. The second-ranked Italian has always been at his best on hard courts and is a two-time defending champion Down Under. Meanwhile, Alcaraz has never reached the final of the Australian Open and it remains to be seen what impact – if any – his split with Juan Carlos Ferrero has on his results.
Runner-up (if on opposite side of the draw): Taylor Fritz
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz
On his clay court, Alcaraz should have the upper hand over Sinner – and everyone else. It’s not like being number 1 in the world That much better on the red court than on hard courts and grass (after all, he also owns two Wimbledon titles and two US Open titles), but it is the surface that probably gives him the best chances, especially against Sinner. Yes, Alcaraz was three match points behind Sinner in the 2025 French Open final, but the 22-year-old was the significantly better player for much of the final three sets. By the time Roland Garros rolls around, Alcaraz should feel comfortable with the new situation in his coaching team.
Runner-up (if on the other side): Jannik Sinner
Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz
Grass is the surface that generally produces the most surprising results, because the margins are smaller and the matches tighter. If there is a new Grand Slam winner in 2026, it will probably happen at Wimbledon. I think Daniil Medvedev is in line for a resurgence and he is a former Wimbledon semifinalist. Going all the way is probably twice as hard as reaching the finals, as every player would probably have to beat both Sinner and Alcaraz reach the final of Major. For an outsider, however, an appearance in the championship game is certainly realistic. As for champions, I think Alcaraz can regain the throne at the All-England Club after his loss to Sinner last 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 is still easy to argue that the 24-year-old is the king of the hard court. Of his four Grand Slam titles to date, three have come on hard court (two Aussies, one American). Sinner hasn’t lost before the final of a hard-court major (a marathon five-set setback against Alexander Zverev in the fourth round) since the 2023 US Open. Either way, another showdown between Alcaraz and Sinner for the title almost feels like a slam dunk. Perhaps the only thing that could derail it is a potential physical problem – which is always possible at such a late stage in the tennis season.
Runner-up (if on the other side): Carlos Alcaraz
It only feels right to support another two-two split of the four Grand Slam titles for Alcaraz and Sinner. I think everyone is at least a year away. Still, an outsider or two reaching a slam final is more than reasonable – the most likely scenarios coming at the Australian Open (players are rusty and Alcaraz could be vulnerable) and Wimbledon (grass). I’m going with the two best players in the world to continue dominating tennis, while at least a few challengers bring enough to the table to keep things interesting.
#Grand #Slam #tennis #picks #predictions #mens #singles