An notable eleven Italian players are set to compete in the 2026 Australian Open, beginning January 18th, marking a significant showing for the nation in the sport.The entry list, released December 9th, signals ItalyS growing strength in both men’s and women’s tennis, with stars like Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini leading the charge. Defending champion Sinner will aim to make history, potentially becoming the first man since Novak Djokovic to win three consecutive titles in Melbourne, while top seeds from around the globe, including Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, prepare for a challenging fortnight down under.
Sinner, Musetti, Cobolli, Darderi, Paolini Headline Italian Contingent at Australian Open
A total of eleven Italian players will compete in the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open, set to begin January 18th. The entry list, announced late last night, features a strong Italian presence on both the men’s and women’s sides. Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, Flavio Cobolli, Luciano Darderi, Lorenzo Sonego, Matteo Berrettini, Matteo Arnaldi, Mattia Bellucci, and Luca Nardi will represent Italy in the men’s draw, while Jasmine Paolini and Elisabetta Cocciaretto will compete in the women’s singles tournament. This number could increase following the qualifying rounds.
Seeding Breakdown
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Sinner (2), Musetti (8), Cobolli (21), and Darderi (25) will be seeded in the men’s singles competition, with Paolini (8) earning a seed in the women’s draw. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, aiming for the Career Grand Slam, leads the men’s entry list. On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed, looking to add to her two Australian Open titles and continue a streak that has seen her reach the final in Melbourne for the past three years. Alcaraz, who has yet to advance past the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park, will face a challenging path that could include a potential final showdown with defending champion Jannik Sinner. Sinner is aiming to become just the second man in the Open Era, after Novak Djokovic, to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. The two rising stars have met in the final of each of the last three Grand Slam events, with the Australian Open remaining the only major where they haven’t yet clashed.
Djokovic’s Pursuit of History
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Ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic arrives in Melbourne ranked No. 4, having reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slam events in 2025 – becoming the oldest player in the Open Era to achieve that feat in a single season. In the women’s draw, alongside Sabalenka, will be defending champion Madison Keys, No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek – who is seeking her Career Slam after winning Wimbledon in 2025 – and Roland Garros winner Coco Gauff, who defeated Sabalenka in the Paris final. Karolina Pliskova, Wang Yafan, and Mananchaya Sawangkaew have all utilized protected rankings to secure their spots. Four players also gained entry via protected ranking on the men’s side: Shang Juncheng, Zhang Zhizhen, Emil Ruusuvuori, and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
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