Australian Open 2026 Review: Rybakina’s victory, Alcaraz’s History, and the Weekender That Delivered
If you followed along with us all fortnight, you know the vibe. The middle of this Australian Open felt a little quiet on the “instant classic” front, and then the tournament saved its best for last. The semi-finals gave us drama and stamina. The finals gave us identity. By Sunday, it felt like Melbourne reminded everyone why a Slam win still hits different, even in an era where tennis is everywhere and somehow still too hard to watch.
On the women’s side, Elena Rybakina winning the Australian Open felt like a payoff and a warning. A payoff because she has lived in that “should be a multi-Slam champion” conversation for a while. A warning because when her serve and first strike tennis click at the same time, there is not a lot of oxygen left for anyone across the net. Against Aryna Sabalenka, it became the perfect contrast. Fire versus ice. Sabalenka roaring through moments, Rybakina barely changing expression, and both of them absolutely flattening the ball. This is the kind of big-hitting baseline tennis that makes a final feel electric. Sabalenka’s loss also said something important about her era at No. 1. She is not just collecting trophies. She is setting the standard. If you want the title, you usually have to go through her, and you rarely get to do it quickly.
Then the men’s final gave us history, but not the version some people were hoping for. Novak Djokovic came in chasing No. 25, and for anyone who has ever looked at the calendar and thought “wait, am I old,” Novak continues to be the best possible reminder that age is not a punchline. Not in real life, and not even always in elite sport. But Carlos Alcaraz is doing that thing he always does, where a new record becomes a line item. He beats Djokovic, completes the Career Grand Slam at 22, and somehow makes it feel both inevitable and still jaw-dropping in the moment. The point that sums it up is the kind you will see on highlight reels until the next major. Djokovic creates something ridiculous. Alcaraz gets there anyway. Winner. Tennis can be brutal like that.
The best part of this weekend is that it also widened the spotlight. Tokito Oda becoming the youngest wheelchair player to complete all four majors deserves real flowers. Doubles deserves attention too, and Neal Skupski and Chris Harrison earning a Grand Slam title is a big deal, full stop. Off the Slam stage, we also loved seeing momentum travel. Camila Osorio taking a title right after Australia is the kind of “off-season work pays off” storyline we are building OFF SEASON around.
We closed the fortnight with Players of the Fortnight, with our usual rule: outside the top 20 and ground-pass friendly. For me, it had to be Eliot Spizzirri. That performance against Jannik Sinner was not just a scoreline, it was a statement about how quickly his level is rising. Nick went with Iva Jovic, whose surge in Australia felt like a preview of a new WTA name you will be hearing all year.
Next up, tennis does what it always does. It keeps moving. The tours are already rolling into the post-AO stretch, and before you know it, we will be staring down the Sunshine Double and refreshing draws like it’s a personality trait. If you are keeping up with OFF SEASON, Episode 2 is out now.
