The Australian Open 2026 singles draws were revealed on Thursday, January 15. The draw gods favored some top players while forsaking the others. Fans want the player they support the most to have a relatively smooth ride until the final.
Iga Swiatek got the short end of the stick in the women’s singles draw, while her peers Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova received favorable draws. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit to express their disbelief at the uneven draw.
Even with Emma Raducanu and Victoria Mboko in her path, fans felt that Sabalenka’s road to the final is quite easy. Given her already impressive record in Australia, they felt that she’s a lock to win again.
They felt Anisimova could also capitalize on her draw, while Swiatek and Elena Rybakina will have to duke it out with some tough opponents. Some were tired of repeated match-ups, referring to yet another Sabalenka-Raducanu contest, while others were excited of a potential showdown between Coco Gauff and Venus Williams.
“Sabalenka has a cupcake draw at the AO,” wrote one fan.
“I’ve seen enough amanda anisimova is the 2026 australian open winner,” commented another fan.
“I think it will be Sabalenka vs Anisimova final again,” wrote a fan.
“Anisimova got the luckiest and Andreeva the unluckiest methinks,” stated one fan.
“Raducanu draw sabalenka again what the hell im so tired,” bemoaned one fan.
“Who did she (Anisimova) pay for this draw,” wrote a fan.
“Free marching cakewalk until SF. I swear this is how this faker wins her titles,” commented another fan.
“The potential venus williams v. coco gauff match in the 2nd round omg,” wrote a fan.
“Iga and aryna fans tryna play the underdog gimmick while the only people in their draw knowing how to hold a racket being Osaka and Raducanu #ragebait!” quipped one fan.
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“Rybakina’s draw is the one of her worst nightmares omg,” wrote another fan.
Madison Keys is the defending champion in women’s singles at the Australian Open 2026, while Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed. There are multiple stories to be followed in Melbourne this year, though one clearly stands out among the rest.
Iga Swiatek Bidding To Complete The Career Grand Slam At The Australian Open 2026
Iga Swiatek’s quest to complete a Career Grand Slam remains one of the biggest storylines at the Australian Open 2026. Coincidentally, Carlos Alcaraz is also aiming to do the same in men’s singles. They could become the first pair in singles to attain the feat simultaneously.
Swiatek won her maiden Major title at the French Open 2020, and has since triumphed in Paris on three more occasions. She captured the US Open title in 2022, and was the last woman standing at Wimbledon 2025.
Swiatek previously reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2022 and 2025. She almost made the final last year but fumbled a match point against Madison Keys in the semifinals. She could become the seventh woman in the Open Era to achieve the Career Grand Slam.
Also read:
Former WTA-Pro Weighs in on Troubles Iga Swiatek Could Face at the Australian Open
