Sinner Begins Historic Three-Peat Bid at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, 20 January 2026 – The spotlight shines brightly on Rod Laver Arena tonight as Jannik Sinner, the world’s second-ranked player, steps onto his most successful court to begin a pursuit of tennis history. The 24-year-old Italian opens his 2026 Australian Open campaign against French left-hander Hugo Gaston, aiming to become only the second man in the Open Era to win three consecutive titles at Melbourne Park.
The Title Defence Commences
Sinner’s first-round match is scheduled for the evening session, not before 7:00 pm AEDT. He enters the contest with a perfect 2-0 record against Gaston, though their last meeting was in 2021. The defending champion boasts a formidable 22-4 win-loss record at the Australian Open since his 2020 debut, having not lost a match here since the fourth round in 2023. His title defences in 2024 and 2025 were sealed with victories over Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, respectively.
A Path Littered with Challenges
Should he advance, Sinner’s quest for a third crown faces a daunting projected path. A potential third-round clash looms with explosive 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca, followed by a likely semi-final showdown with the tournament’s most decorated champion, Novak Djokovic. The ten-time Australian Open winner presents the most significant hurdle in Sinner’s half of the draw. Waiting in a potential final is world No. 1 and great rival, Carlos Alcaraz.
Former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski has labelled Sinner’s draw as the more difficult of the top two seeds. “Sinner has got the harder of the two sections, no question about it,” Rusedski said.
Evolving to Stay Ahead
Despite his dominance in Melbourne, Sinner has spent the offseason refining his game. Stung by a loss to Alcaraz in the 2025 US Open final, where he admitted to being “very predictable,” the Italian has focused on adding variety. Data from Tennis Data Innovations shows he increased his shot selection variety by 17% in the latter part of 2025, upping his net play and use of slice and drop shots.
“We worked a lot on trying to make the transition to the net,” Sinner said at Melbourne Park. “The serve, we changed a couple of things. But all small details. When you are at the top level, small details make the difference.” He was quick to add that the changes were about personal improvement, not just targeting Alcaraz. “If you add something to your game, the aim is to get better as a tennis player. It’s not about beating one guy.”
Jannik Sinner: Key Facts & Records
| Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| World Ranking | No. 2 |
| Australian Open Record | 22-4 (Champion 2024, 2025) |
| Grand Slam Titles | 4 (AO ’24, US Open ’24, AO ’25, Wimbledon ’25) |
| 2025 Season Record | 58-6 |
| Hard Court Win Percentage | 81.4% (227-52 record) |
| Head-to-Head vs. Alcaraz | Trails 6-10 |
| Head-to-Head vs. Djokovic | Leads 6-4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Jannik Sinner’s first match?
Jannik Sinner plays France’s Hugo Gaston in the first round on Tuesday 20 January, during the Rod Laver Arena evening session (not before 7:00 pm AEDT).
Has anyone won three Australian Opens in a row before?
In the Open Era, only Novak Djokovic has achieved the ‘three-peat’ at the Australian Open, doing so twice (2011-2013 and 2019-2021). Sinner is attempting to match this feat.
Who is Sinner’s biggest rival?
Carlos Alcaraz is considered Sinner’s primary rival. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head 10-6 and the pair have split the last eight Grand Slam titles between them. A final between the two is a strong possibility in Melbourne.
Did Sinner play any warm-up tournaments?
No. Sinner opted for a longer offseason and did not play an official ATP event prior to the Australian Open. He did participate in an exhibition match in Seoul and the pre-tournament ‘1 Point Slam’ in Melbourne, where he was surprisingly beaten by local amateur Jordan Smith.