The Australian Open 2026 qualifying event promises four days of intense tennis action at Melbourne Park, beginning Monday 12 January. With 128 players in both the men’s and women’s fields, fans can expect a mix of Grand Slam champions, rising stars, and local favourites battling for a coveted spot in the main draw.
Format and wildcards
To qualify for the main draw, players must win three matches. Sixteen places are available in each singles draw, with three wildcards still to be announced for the men and one remaining for the women. Final-round qualifying matches are scheduled for Thursday 15 January, forming part of AO Opening Week presented by Herald Sun.
Women’s field features experience and youth
Leading the women’s qualifying list is Polina Kudermetova, ranked No.104, who recently reached the Brisbane International final. She is joined by Sloane Stephens, Jennifer Brady, and Kristina Mladenovic, all entering via protected rankings. Other notable names include Katie Boulter and Taylor Townsend.
Young talents Lilli Tagger, winner of the 2025 Roland Garros junior title, and Alina Korneeva, AO 2023 girls’ champion, add excitement to the draw. Twelve Australians will compete, including Astra Sharma, Maddison Inglis, Olivia Gadecki, and Arina Rodionova. Wildcards have been awarded to Destanee Aiava, Lizette Cabrera, Tina Smith, Elena Micic, Storm Hunter, Alana Subasic, Tahlia Kokkinis, and Renee Alame. The final wildcard goes to French junior Ksenia Efremova through a reciprocal agreement.
Strong local presence in men’s qualifying
The men’s field also includes 12 Australians. Jordan Thompson, Bernard Tomic, Alex Bolt, Jason Kubler, James McCabe, and Dane Sweeny have earned direct entry. Wildcards have been granted to Cruz Hewitt, Edward Winter, Pavle Marinkov, Li Tu, Moerani Bouzige, and Philip Sekulic. Henry Bernet, the AO 2025 junior champion, joins them with a wildcard, while two more will be announced in early January.
International contenders and rising stars
World No.102 Vit Kopriva of Czechia leads the men’s entry list. Fans will recognize former world No.4 Kei Nishikori, Dan Evans, Nicholas Jarry, Dusan Lajovic, Yoshihito Nishioka, Mackenzie McDonald, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, and Wu Yibing.
Seven players from the recent Next Gen ATP Finals are also included: Alexander Blockx, Dino Prizmic, Martin Landaluce, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, Nishesh Basavareddy, Rafael Jodar, and Justin Engel. Rei Sakamoto, AO 2024 boys’ champion and now a top-200 player, rounds out the list.
A preview of tennis’s future
The qualifying rounds offer a glimpse into the next generation of tennis talent and a chance for seasoned players to reclaim their place on the big stage. With a diverse and competitive field, the Australian Open 2026 qualifying event is set to deliver compelling matches and memorable moments.
