Where every top 10 ATP player will begin their 2026 tennis seasons

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As the new year begins, so does the 2026 ATP Tour season…

The stars of the ATP Tour will soon return to action at several different events.

Three tournaments will be played in the first week of the season: the United Cup, Brisbane International, and Hong Kong Open.

However, some players will return in the second week, at either the Adelaide International or the Auckland Open.

And others have only signed up to play exhibitions before the Australian Open…

But who is playing where?

Where and when the ATP top 10 will begin their 2026 campaigns

1. Carlos Alcaraz – South Korea

World number one Carlos Alcaraz won’t play an official tournament before the first Grand Slam of the year.

He will, however, appear in a high-profile exhibition match in Incheon, South Korea, on January 10, just eight days before the Australian Open begins.

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The exhibition could well act as a preview to the Australian Open final…

2. Jannik Sinner – South Korea

It will be the world number two and four-time Grand Slam champion, Jannik Sinner, who takes on Alcaraz in South Korea.

The pair have contested the last three Grand Slam finals, and are expected to extend that streak in Melbourne later this month.

• 2025 French Open F – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner
• 2025 Wimbledon F – Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz
• 2025 US Open F – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner

Whether either player will regret not competing in an ATP Tour event before the tournament begins remains to be seen.

3. Alexander Zverev – United Cup (Sydney)

Germany’s Alexander Zverev finished as the runner-up in Melbourne 12 months ago and will again make his season debut at the United Cup.

Placed in a group with the Netherlands and Poland, Zverev could play the likes of Tallon Griekspoor and Hubert Hurkacz in Sydney.

If he were to pick up a few wins and build confidence, then perhaps this could be the year that Zverev secures his first Grand Slam title…

4. Novak Djokovic – Adelaide

The 24-time Grand Slam champion played his first tournament of 2025 in Brisbane, but has made the switch to Adelaide for 2026.

Djokovic is a former champion in Adelaide, winning in 2023, and will be after ATP title number 102 at this year’s tournament.

5. Felix Auger-Aliassime – United Cup (Sydney)

The 2025 Adelaide International champion, Felix Auger-Aliassime, has decided not to attempt to defend his title this year.

Instead, Auger-Aliassime will join up with Team Canada at the United Cup.

In a group with Belgium and China, Auger-Aliassime may be quietly confident about his team’s chances…

6. Taylor Fritz – United Cup (Perth)

Taylor Fritz won his second United Cup last year and will be back for more in 2026.

Competing alongside Coco Gauff again, it’s going to be difficult for anyone to stop Fritz from becoming a three-time champion at the sport’s premier mixed-gender event

7. Alex de Minaur – United Cup (Sydney)

After another strong season in 2025, Alex de Minaur will return to tennis Down Under, in front of his adoring home fans.

What better way for De Minaur to prepare for the Australian Open than to guide Australia to their first-ever United Cup title?

8. Lorenzo Musetti – Hong Kong

Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti hasn’t won an ATP title in over three years.

For all his success elsewhere on tour, Musetti will want to correct that during the early stages of the 2026 season.

Competing as the number-one seed in the ATP 250 Hong Kong Open, he’ll certainly be in with a chance of doing so.

9. Ben Shelton – Auckland

Last year’s Australian Open semifinalist Ben Shelton will begin his 2026 season in Auckland, New Zealand.

He won’t have an easy route to the title, though, with the likes of Casper Ruud and Jakub Mensik set to join him.

10. Jack Draper – N/A

Unfortunately for Jack Draper, he won’t be competing in Australia this year due to his ongoing injury problems.

The Briton last played a professional match at the US Open, bringing his strong 2025 season to a close.

Set for a longer spell on the sidelines, it’s unclear when and where we will see Draper return to the ATP Tour.

Full list and dates of the ATP top 10’s upcoming schedules