Professional tennis in 2026
View(s):Professional realm of tennis is very attractive and inviting. The challenge of skilled exponents with perfected physical attributes exhibiting their acquired skills is very appealing. It heightens sport. In this realm, tennis has stood with its own merit never fell apart but sailed into the modern era.
Aryna Sabalenka opened the 2026 season on a high at Melbourne Open last week - AFP
It survived global wars, revolutions and even self-centred leadership nationally and globally. No regime has rejected tennis. The game has something strong in it, to have withstood these adversities.
In spectatorship, one misses a good tennis even in short recesses the game takes. Recess most felt is the break between US Open and next year’s Australian Open as waiting time.
Tennis Grand Slams idea from early 20th century caught sporting wind after first World War ending in 1918. Since then tennis thrived and the game went into professionalism in the 1970s. It is ever so strong now.
After the last Grand Slam event of 2025, the US Open, media interest slacked only to be kindled with spectator interest again with up and coming Australian Open of 2026, which begins incidentally January 18, Sunday, in Melbourne Australia.
Tennis popularity
Tennis popularity did not happen overnight, what we have now took 200 long years. As early sporting skill development in schools, tennis thrived in Europe. Over the two centuries, European royal patronages, colonial sports promotion and local spectator interest with media support did the rest.
At one time, it was affordable to middle-income citizens. Of recent, locally it as overshot the mark and extremely revenue oriented. Tennis faced this a good few times it is existence went almost extinct, only to bounce back. Individualism and interactive are its return appeal. In its lean period one could say, tennis did weed out the bad influence globally.
Of recent, inclusion of tennis into Olympics has done little good to it. The open professional calendar events with its mega prize money and in big city locations overrides Olympic contribution to tennis. Qualifying and playing in Olympics has its own obstacles to players. Some say it is very irksome.
Big names in AO 2026
Australian Open from now will go into the end of the month. Attractive sports news item. Like to give you a recap of the best players, from ATP and WTA. It is compulsory event if ranked in top 140 of the Open ranking. Top 10 of the Men are Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, attraction and otherwise Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, Felix Aliassime, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Asian Alexander Bublic – first time in Top 10 – and Englishman Jack Draper.
From the WTA ranking Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina, much expected off her this year, admirable athlete Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, the youngest, Madison Keys, another time tested, Belinda Bencic can surprise anyone and shadow fox Elina Svitolina will go into the Australian Open women’s event.
Alcaraz and Sinner had one exhibition match in Seoul for this year as preparation; lean and mean, I would say. Australian Open happens too soon in the New Year. It has always been so, does not come after a few warm up events but abrupt at the very beginning of the professional circuit.
To the players more than the opponent, their own physical breakdown seem to be their main concern. Last year a good number either played in low gear or abstained participation for physical recovery. Physically, professional players take too much and rest is what doctor prescribes.
Not easy, WTA and ATP as organisations are at player’s heels to fulfil their commitment to franchised events worldwide. There are hefty penalty on players for breaches in contract and not participating, no escape. These revolve round mega bucks.
Skill itself that counts
When a match begins, it does not go according to the player’s plan. Simply said no opponent will oblige to opponent’s plan. Player with plans have to improvise. Having strong arsenal players can dictate. There are unknown number of tactical options. Even at the highest professional level, a player will have very few options.
A good opponent will negate a good number of these. To the spectators this is the interesting situation. To predict one has to throw dices or watch to identify players achieving a tactical play with little or no margin for error. This is true in all open sporting disciplines.
Early events of 2026
In the early ATP calendar, Daniil Medvedev won the Brisbane title. Alexander Bublik won the Hong Kong title and sailed into the Top 10 of the ATP ranking for the first time. He is Asian, rare identity among the elites, was contemplating to walk out of tennis altogether a year ago; such is life.
–George Paldano, European and Asian competition player; player development German Federation, National coach Brunei and Sri Lanka; Davis Cup, Federation Cup, ATP and WTA tour coach; WhatsApp +94775448880–