Jannik Sinner will soon get his 2026 season underway at the Australian Open, where he is looking to make history.
After emerging victorious at Melbourne Park for the second consecutive time last year, Sinner is bidding to become just the second man in the Open Era to three-peat Down Under, following Novak Djokovic.
The Italian has not competed in any Australian Open tune-up events, but he did face his rival, Carlos Alcaraz, in an exhibition match in South Korea.
Sinner has been dominant at hard-court majors, with three of his four Grand Slam titles being won on his preferred surface.
Former Australian tennis player Todd Woodbridge has backed the 24-year-old to make it three in a row at the Australian Open, but thinks there is still one part of his game that opponents can target.
Todd Woodbridge analyses Jannik Sinner’s weakness
Speaking on Radio One International, Woodbridge said: “I think he can win three in a row. That’s what I’m picking for Jannik Sinner.
“I think the surface is terrific for him. All four surfaces now, speed wise, are more similar than they have ever been, but the bounces are slightly different.
“The way the ball comes onto you and it comes on above hip high in the shoulder height, and he’s incredibly good at leaning into the ball and being able to just generate fast pace into corners.
Has anyone in tennis history ever hit the ball as hard as Jannik Sinner does?
“That’s his strength. His serve has improved over the last 18 months also. And where is he vulnerable? Well, he’s been invulnerable in the past if you could get him moving forward, if you could get him to come towards a slice backhand and not allow him to really hit and rip.
“Now Carlos Alcaraz is one of the few players in the world who is able to do that through his slice backhand.
“So this is what he’s improved so much in these last 12 months with his coaching staff and Darren Cahill, who is a real technician in tactics.
“He is a much better net player than he’s ever been, but it’s still the part where he’s more vulnerable than say an Alcaraz.
“So if he comes forward, which he’s happy to do now, but you always can make him play an extra volley, you’ve got a chance of staying in there.
“So sometimes when you play him, don’t go for an outright pass if you can’t make that ball, let him get a racket on it.
“But we’re talking small percentages, and that’s what I think where he’s been so brilliant these last 12 months.
“The only guy that really can take him out of his comfort zone is Alcaraz. Every other player on the tour has got to try to watch how he does that.”
Jannik Sinner’s last campaign at the Australian Open
Sinner began his 2025 Australian Open campaign with a straight-sets win over Nicolas Jarry, but he was tested in round two.
The then-world number one went a set down to home hope Tristan Schoolkate, before clawing his way back into the contest to advance.
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A comfortable win over Marcos Giron saw Sinner reach the fourth round, where he battled past Holger Rune to set up a quarterfinal clash with Alex de Minaur.
Australia’s best player had no answer for Sinner, who followed the triumph with another straight-sets win against Ben Shelton.
Sinner played his best tennis late on in the tournament, and capped his run off by beating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 to hoist the trophy.
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