The Australian Open 2026 edition

There are so many things that I love about January in Australia – and the Australian Open is firmly among them. The event has grown from its modest, grass-court debut in 1905 to become a global spectacle that gets bigger and better each year, never failing to live up to its reputation as the “Happy Slam”. Melbourne becomes the centre of the sporting world and we get a front-row seat to tennis at its most elite. Witnessing the world’s greatest players in full flight in our own backyard is, needless to say, a large part of the Open’s appeal, but it is also the event’s quintessentially Australian feel – and how it embodies our energetic and egalitarian spirit – that makes it such a great spectator experience. Our annual Tennis magazine aims to capture the Open’s unique blend of sport and spectacle in its pages. You will find Konrad Marshall’s interview with Alex de Minaur, in which Australia’s best tennis player discusses how he has contended with losses that left him in a “dark spot”, achieved a career-high ranking and maintained his drive to compete. Meanwhile, Russian-born Daria Kasatkina shares the experiences that led to her nationality switch last year to compete as an Australian. We profile one of Australia’s best-ever coaches, Darren Cahill, whose many successes include playing a key part in delivering 19 of current charge Jannik Sinner’s 24 singles titles. If you are a stats aficionado, you will love our piece on Tennis Australia’s head of game analysis, “tennis nerd” Simon Rea. Rea and his team are behind the data that can make or break a player’s game. Finally, for those who like a bit of glam in their slam, we take a look at the ongoing evolution of the Open’s hospitality offerings and share some fashion and food tips. Enjoy! – Melissa Stevens, editor