The Australian Open will play host to several former top players returning to the sport for the first time in years.
This includes former world number one Karolina Pliskova making her Grand Slam return in Australia next year.
There will also be some familiar faces in the doubles draw, as Vera Zvonareva returns to the Australian Open for the first time in four years.
As well as both Pliskova and Zvonareva, a former Australian Open singles finalist has now also confirmed her intention to return to the sport.
Jennifer Brady to make Grand Slam return at the Australian Open
Jennifer Brady is a former world number 13 and achieved the best result of her career when she reached the final of the Australian Open in 2021.
However, injuries have been a huge disruptor to Brady’s progress in recent years, having undergone knee surgery in 2022.
After a two-year absence from the WTA Tour, Brady attempted a comeback in 2023, but it was not a successful one.
Brady played just 10 matches in this comeback, before she was forced to retire at the China Open with another knee issue, which she would again require surgery for.
The 30-year-old has not played a match since then, but there were some positive signs after Brady was spotted practicing at the US Open.
This has now officially been confirmed, after Brady used her protected ranking to enter Australian Open qualifying.
Brady will now play her first Grand Slam tournament since the US Open in 2023, as she returns to the Australian Open for the first time since she reached the final five years ago.
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Sloane Stephens will have to play Grand Slam qualifying for just the third time in her career
Brady is not the only American player who will be making a comeback in Melbourne, with former US Open champion Sloane Stephens also joining her.
Stephens spent seven months on the sidelines with a foot injury this year, and is currently ranked outside the top 1000 in the world.
However, due to this absence, Stephens can rely on a protected ranking which enables her to get into Grand Slam qualifying.
While this is a positive sign for Stephens making her Grand Slam return, it is the first time she will play in qualifying at a major tournament since Wimbledon in 2012.
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Before competing in Australian Open qualifying, Stephens will play at the WTA tournament in Auckland to kick off her 2026 season.
This is where Stephens will look to return to winning ways, after losing her last 12 matches since Wimbledon in 2024.
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