In tennis, timing is everything. As the countdown to the first Grand Slam of the year reaches its final moments, the world’s finest players are gathering at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, from Sunday 18 January to Sunday 1 February. The tournament not only launches the 2026 major season but also opens another chapter in Rolex’s enduring commitment to the sport.
This year’s edition arrives charged with possibility. Three of tennis’ brightest stars step onto the courts with history firmly in their sights. Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek each have the opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam®—winning all four of the sport’s most coveted titles—while Jannik Sinner targets a rare third consecutive Australian Open crown.
At just 22, and since becoming a Rolex Testimonee in 2022, Alcaraz has already collected six Grand Slam® titles, making him the youngest man to triumph on all three surfaces. His exceptional 2025 season saw the Spaniard register 70 match wins for the first time, reach more finals, and lift more trophies than any other player on the ATP Tour. Looking ahead to Melbourne, the World No. 1 reflects:
“Winning all four Grand Slams is one of the greatest achievements in our sport. Having the chance to fight for it already is a privilege. I’ll prepare as always, give my best every day, and if the opportunity comes, I’ll embrace the moment.”
A title in Melbourne would elevate Alcaraz or Świątek into one of tennis’ most exclusive circles: the 18 players who have completed the career Grand Slam, including Rolex Testimonees Rod Laver, Chris Evert and Roger Federer. Nowhere does that legacy resonate more powerfully than on Rod Laver Arena itself, where the iconic Rolex clocks mark each decisive moment.
Laver’s benchmark remains the ultimate standard. Across his legendary career, he claimed 11 Grand Slam singles titles, including the historic calendar-year Grand Slam in 1962. Reflecting on his achievements, Laver says:
“I was fortunate to play my best tennis at the right time and take the opportunities when they came. The Grand Slams are the pinnacle of our sport. If you keep working hard and never give up, things beyond your imagination can become possible.”
Standing firmly in the path of history is Jannik Sinner—Alcaraz’s fiercest rival and already a four-time Grand Slam champion. The Italian has shared the past eight major titles with Alcaraz and could carve his own unique legacy in Melbourne. A third consecutive victory would make him only the second man in history to achieve such a feat at the Australian Open. Sinner reflects:
“My 2025 season brought success, but also lessons. In every match, especially the losses, I tried to evolve my game. If you keep working hard and searching for improvement, the results will follow.”
Rolex’s association with tennis excellence spans nearly five decades. Since first partnering with Wimbledon in 1978, the brand has become an integral part of the sport’s most prestigious stages, serving as Official Timekeeper of the Australian Open since 2008. In 2026, Rolex once again stands alongside the players chasing greatness in Melbourne.
Alongside Alcaraz and Sinner in the hunt for the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup are Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and João Fonseca, each building on impressive 2025 campaigns. In the women’s draw, Mirra Andreeva, Belinda Bencic and Coco Gauff join Świątek in pursuit of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, each seeking to inscribe their name into Australian Open history for the first time.
As the season begins, the demands of elite tennis—precision, resilience and the ability to perform under pressure—will once again define champions. With Rolex Testimonees on the brink of history, two electrifying weeks in Melbourne will reveal whether the moment has arrived for the next career Grand Slam.
Rolex Testimonees – Australian Open Champions
Rod Laver (1960*, 1962*, 1969)
Chris Evert (1982, 1984)
Stefan Edberg (1985, 1987)
Jim Courier (1992, 1993)
Roger Federer (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018)
Justine Henin (2004)
Li Na (2014)
Angelique Kerber (2016)
Caroline Wozniacki (2018)
Jannik Sinner (2024, 2025)
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