2026 Australian Open: British Contenders to Watch in the Happy Slam
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Cydias Aujard
Top Male British Contenders in the 2026 Australian Open
Cameron Norrie
Cameron Norrie will essentially be leading British hopes in the men's department after an impressive end to the 2025 season. The 30-year-old secured a seeded entry after finishing inside the top 30, and he'll be looking to build on that momentum.
Norrie made it to the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year and pulled off arguably the biggest win of his career when he defied the betting odds to beat world number one Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Masters. That kind of form is exactly what you want heading into a Grand Slam, and Norrie will be confident he can go deeper than his fourth-round appearance in 2024.
Jacob Fearnley
Jacob Fearnley is another British name to watch closely. The 24-year-old made his Australian Open debut last year and immediately turned heads by beating Nick Kyrgios in straight sets. That win set the tone for what became a breakthrough season, with Fearnley breaking into the top 50 and reaching career-best performances at three of the four Grand Slams.
He eventually fell to Alexander Zverev in the third round last year, but that experience should serve him well as he looks to go even further this time around.
Arthur Fery and George Loffhagen
Still representing Great Britain in the qualifiers are Arthur Fery and George Loffhagen, who look to make their Australian Open debuts. Both players opened with first-round straight-sets wins in the qualifying stage.
Fery and Loffhagen will need to win three matches to secure their spots in the main draw, but stranger things have happened in Melbourne. If they can find their form and get a bit of luck with the draw, either one could cause problems in the early rounds.
2026 Women's Australian Open Top British Contenders
Emma Raducanu
As for the Women's tournament, it’s Emma Raducanu who leads as Britain's current highest-ranked player. The former US Open champion is ranked 29th in the world and is coming off her best Australian Open performance last year, when she reached the third round.
Raducanu had a solid 2025 season overall, making the semi-finals at the Citi Open and quarter-finals in Miami. She'll have a seeded entry this year, which means avoiding the top players until at least the third round. That could be the difference between a deep run and an early exit.
Sonay Kartal
Alongside her is Sonay Kartal, who’ll be looking to carry the momentum from her 2025 breakout season. The 24-year-old reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and made her first WTA 1000 quarter-final at the China Open.
She made her debut at the Australian Open last year but fell in the first round. With a year of experience under her belt and newfound confidence from her performances at the bigger tournaments, Kartal could be a dangerous floater in the draw.
Curious for the best betting picks in the Happy Slam? Check out our expert’s 2026 Australian Open predictions!
Francesca Jones
Francesca Jones broke into the top 100 last year for the first time after winning back-to-back WTA 125 titles. Jones was previously told by doctors she wouldn't play professional tennis due to a rare genetic condition, but she's proven everyone wrong. This will be her first appearance in the main draw since 2021, and while getting that first Grand Slam win is the priority, Jones has shown she can compete at this level.
Katie Boulter
The 2024 San Diego Open winner, Katie Boulter, received a late boost after initially missing out on direct entry. The 29-year-old struggled with form and fitness at the end of 2025, dropping outside the top 100, but high-profile withdrawals opened up a spot in the main draw.
Boulter has made the second round at the Australian Open in each of the last two years, and while she's not in the best form heading into Melbourne, Grand Slams have a way of bringing out the best in players.
Harriet Dart and Mimi Xu
The qualifying rounds will also feature Harriet Dart and 18-year-old Mimi Xu. Dart finished 2025 by winning the W75 Toronto title, while Xu claimed her biggest career title at the Lexus Wrexham Open. Both will need to navigate three tough qualifying matches to join their compatriots in the main draw, but they've both shown the quality to get it done.