Defending champions top list of Australian Open contenders

Ten players to watch at Melbourne Park.

The world’s best tennis players are preparing to begin the grand slam season at the Australian Open.

Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka will once again be the favourites, but there are plenty of challengers hoping to knock them off their perches.

Here, the PA news agency picks out 10 players to look out for at Melbourne Park.

Jannik Sinner

The Italian began last year looking for his first slam title and ended it, by some distance, as the world’s best player. He dominated on hard courts in particular, winning the US Open as well as the Australian Open, and was almost untouchable in the latter stages of 2024 despite the threat of a doping suspension that continues to hang over him. He will take some stopping.

Carlos Alcaraz

If anyone can beat Sinner, Alcaraz appears to have the best chance. The young Spaniard was inconsistent last season, as evidenced by the fact he is ranked third despite winning two more slam titles at the French Open and Wimbledon. But he also won all three of his matches against Sinner and has the upper hand in that rivalry for the moment.

Novak Djokovic

Alexander Zverev

Sandwiched between Sinner and Alcaraz in the rankings is German Zverev, who enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2024, including reaching a second slam final at the French Open. Now 27, Zverev is hoping to turn consistency into major titles.

Joao Fonseca

Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka overtook Iga Swiatek as world number one amid the latter’s short doping ban, but there is no question she deserves the position after a brilliant season. Like Sinner, the big-hitting Belarusian won on the hard courts of Melbourne and New York and she will be bidding for a third successive Australian Open title.

Iga Swiatek

Coco Gauff

Having ended last year in spectacular style by winning the WTA Finals for the second biggest title of her career, Gauff kicked off 2025 by winning five straight matches to help the United States claim the United Cup crown. The last of those came against Swiatek and the 20-year-old looks ready to do some damage in Melbourne.

Zheng Qinwen

Following in the footsteps of her hero Li Na, Chinese number one Zheng reached her first grand slam final here last year. Although she was unable to match Sabalenka, it laid the foundations for the powerful 22-year-old to have a superb season, highlighted by Olympic gold and a run to the final of the WTA Finals.