The 113th edition of the Australian Open is here, so our expert writers at The Tennis Gazette have predicted every key storyline to follow at the first Grand Slam of 2025.
Melbourne Park has welcomed the top 128 players on the ATP Tour and the best 128 talents from the WTA Tour for two weeks of top-tier competition Down Under. The Australian Open has been a staple of the calendar since Rodney Heath won the maiden running back in 1905.
ATP world No1 Jannik Sinner and WTA world No1 Aryna Sabalenka have even both returned to the state of Victoria as the reigning men’s and women’s Australian Open champions, too. Sabalenka is also bidding for the three-peat in 2025 after winning the title in 2023 and 2024.
The 2024 Australian Open crown marked Sinner’s first Grand Slam title. But the Italian is set for a tricky defence given Sinner’s potential route to the 2025 Australian Open final. The 23-year-old could even face the 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in the final.
So, with that in mind, our team of expert writers at The Tennis Gazette have predicted each of the major storylines for the Australian Open as Grand Slam tennis now kicks off in 2025…
Tennis experts predict the 2025 men’s singles champion as Jannik Sinner defends his Australian Open title
Matthew Johns: “In terms of the Grand Slams, 2024 was Novak Djokovic’s worst year since 2017. However, the Serb showed how good his level can still be at the Paris Olympic Games when Djokovic wanted it so much.
“I think he is likely to have a similar attitude at the Australian Open, knowing that it could potentially be one of Djokovic’s last chances for major success.
“And wouldn’t it be ironic if Andy Murray finally got his hands on the Australian Open title alongside the player in Djokovic who stopped him from winning it on so many occasions.”
George Patten: “Novak Djokovic may have suffered a shock exit in Brisbane earlier this month, but that won’t stop him from producing another stellar performance at the Australian Open.
“Ten-times a champion on Rod Laver Arena, the Serb now has the expertise of Andy Murray to call upon as the duo look to ascend to the top of men’s tennis once more.
“It won’t be easy, and he may not be the favorite, but an 11th Australian Open title could now just be a few short weeks away for Djokovic.”
Peter Lynch: “I was confident about Novak Djokovic winning another Australian Open. But after seeing the draw it does seem likely that it could prove too difficult for the veteran, with Jannik Sinner now my favorite to come out on top.”
Lee Clarke: “It’s hard to look past Jannik Sinner to win the 2025 Australian Open, isn’t it? Before I watched Carlos Alcaraz practice with Alex de Minaur, I might have backed him to win. But something just felt wrong with that performance and it’s put me off picking him.”
Liam Llewellyn: “Several names are in the running for the title on the men’s side, but I think world number one Jannik Sinner retains the Australian Open singles title in 2025.
“The Italian is fresh for the tournament following a special 2024 campaign, which began with his first Grand Slam win at Melbourne Park. Sinner looks too strong right now and I see him starting 2025 in the exact same manner.”
Predicting the 2025 women’s singles champion as Aryna Sabalenka defends her Australian Open title
Matthew Johns: “The women’s singles event is a very interesting one as the depth of talent is always so strong at the Australian Open. However, I am going to back Coco Gauff to take the title.
“Ever since partnering with coach Matt Daly, Gauff has looked like a different player and she took that to a whole other level at the United Cup.
“Gauff’s forehand used to be such a target for opponents to aim at, but now she has turned it into a real weapon and appears to have very few weaknesses in her game.”
George Patten: “Coco Gauff was the ‘MVP’ of the United Cup earlier this month as she helped Team USA to their second title in three years at the event.
“Having won the China Open and WTA Finals at the back end of last year, it’s fair to say that the 20-year-old is in fine form ahead of the Australian Open.
“She reached the last four in 2024 but has made a real step forward since then, and it could be time for Gauff to add a second major title to her trophy cabinet at the Australian Open.”
Peter Lynch: “Regardless of the draw, it is very hard to look beyond Aryna Sabalenka to complete the Australian Open hat-trick. She is in formidable form, having just won the Brisbane International, with her confidence certain to be sky high.”
Lee Clarke: “If Aryna Sabalenka stays fit this year, expect total dominance – starting from the Australian Open. She’s more powerful and more athletic than any other woman and I fancy her serve to be extremely dangerous in Melbourne.”
Liam Llewellyn: “Coco Gauff has lost just one match since the US Open and won three titles, claiming important wins over Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in the process.
“Given her scintillating form and newfound belief and confidence in her game, Gauff will claim her first Australian Open title and beat defending champion Sabalenka along the way.”
How far will defending Australian Open champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka go?
Matthew Johns: “Despite not picking either Jannik Sinner or Aryna Sabalenka for the title, I would not be surprised if either of them go on and defend their victories from last year.
“I struggle to see either Sinner or Sabalenka falling before at least the semi-final stage, as they were both just so dominant and reliable on hard courts last year.”
George Patten: “Jannik Sinner is no doubt the favorite for the Australian Open, but there may just be a little too much noise for the Italian star to compete with this time around.
“An Australian Open final match between Sinner and Nick Kyrgios would certainly get people talking. But it may well be an outsider who takes down the world No1 in Melbourne.
“Perhaps as we saw with Novak Djokovic in Brisbane, a big server could disrupt the world number one’s rhythm in the early rounds and he could be out before the second week.
“Aryna Sabalenka is the two-time defending Australian Open champion, and is the odds-on favorite to complete the ‘three-peat’ in 2025.
“She’s started the season strongly with a win in Brisbane, and there really isn’t anything to suggest she’ll struggle when the tennis circus heads to Melbourne. A final seems likely for the Belarussian, but it may be third time unlucky for Sabalenka as she comes up just short.”
Peter Lynch: “Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka can definitely go all the way in Melbourne as they look to extend their leads as the world number ones.”
Lee Clarke: “Jannik Sinner could come unstuck in the Australian Open semis when he meets either of Daniil Medvedev or Taylor Fritz. But he beat both of those players comfortably at various stages last season, so I think Sinner is very much the man to beat.”
Liam Llewellyn: “Both Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are strong favorites to retain their Australian Open titles in 2025.
“But while I see the Italian winning for a second successive year, Sabalenka will fall short in her quest to win at Melbourne Park for a third time in a row.
“She can meet Coco Gauff in the semi-finals, and I believe that is where the American will end Sabalenka’s excellent reign at the Australian Open.”
Who will be the top American player at the 2025 Australian Open?
Matthew Johns: “While it may be a boring prediction, it is hard to look past both of the two American number ones in Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz from shining at the Australian Open.
“Both players impressed at the United Cup and while Gauff is a more likely title contender than Fritz, he will definitely be looking to continue his momentum on from reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open last year.”
George Patten: “Sebastian Korda reached the quarter-finals in Australia back in 2023 and, despite struggling with several injuries since, looks primed for a career-best year in 2025.
“The American made the last four in Montreal last year and is widely regarded as one of the top prospects on the ATP Tour. So, with a favorable draw, Korda could go far at this year’s Australian Open.”
Peter Lynch: “Taylor Fritz will be hard to beat given his recent form, but his winning United Cup teammate Coco Gauff has the potential to go further and enjoy a deep run at the 2025 Australian Open.”
Lee Clarke: “I don’t see an American making the last four in the men’s draw at the Australian Open but Coco Gauff can get there for the women in 2025. I do think she will run into Aryna Sabalenka and be beaten, however.”
Liam Llewellyn: “Gauff is full of confidence in her game heading into the Australian Open. Her form would suggest this is the best she has felt heading into a Grand Slam.
“Having lost just one match since September 1, 2024 and collecting recent wins against her biggest rivals Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, I expect Gauff to go all the way at the 2025 Australian Open and win her second Grand Slam title.
“I also believe Taylor Fritz will be the top-performing American male at the 2025 Australian Open. He had a strong United Cup and will look to build on his run to the US Open final.
“He is seeded four and will avoid facing the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic before the semi-finals. Therefore, following his good form, I expect him to at least make a run to the quarter-finals.”
Predicting the breakout player of the 2025 Australian Open
Matthew Johns: “Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has been making waves on the ATP Tour since his run to the fourth round of Wimbledon last year.
“With such a big game, the Frenchman will be a nightmare for any opponent and is perhaps an even bigger threat now as he is now amongst the seeded players.
“Mirra Andreeva is already a well-known prospect on the WTA Tour at just 17 years old, but this feels like the year that she takes it to that next level.
“Andreeva always seems to bring it for these big tournaments and has the game and mindset to make a deep run at the Australian Open this year.”
George Patten: “Joao Fonseca has taken the tennis world by storm in the past few months, winning the Next Gen ATP Finals and the Canberra Challenger to kickstart his 2025 season.
“He’ll have to advance through qualifying in Australia but if Fonseca can make it to the main draw, it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see the 18-year-old Brazilian pick up a few wins at his first major tournament.”
Peter Lynch: “Even though he faces 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in round one, I think Alex Michelsen can beat the Greek and be a breakout star at the 2025 Australian Open.”
Lee Clarke: “Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is my pick to be the breakout player of the 2025 Australian Open. He’s playing well going into this one and this year does look like being the year when the Frenchman finally kicks on even further.
“He’s in a nice little part of the draw and could meet number four seed Taylor Fritz in the last 32. If the stars align, don’t discount him from that match.”
Liam Llewellyn: “Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard enjoyed a rapid rise of the ATP rankings in 2024. He won two titles and is up to No30 in the rankings. Following a run to the Brisbane semi-finals, the young Frenchman is in good form and a serious weapon in his serve.
“He will be motivated to make a good impression Down Under and certainly has the game to make it into the second week. Another potential breakout star is Mirra Andreeva, who made the Australian Open fourth-round in 2024 aged just 16.
“Now, with a year’s more experience and sitting inside the world’s top 20, I see the exciting young talent that is Andreeva, who reached the Brisbane semi-finals on Saturday, making the quarter-finals and possibly going further.”
Who will struggle the most at the 2025 Australian Open?
Matthew Johns: “Daniil Medvedev has a very strong record at the Australian Open, having reached the final on three previous occasions including last year.
“However, after suffering another heartbreaking final defeat in Melbourne last year and going without a title throughout 2024, Medvedev may be starting to feel like he is falling behind the rest of the main pack and could be vulnerable to an early upset.
“We were not even expecting to see Danielle Collins competing in 2025, but these past few months have not been any near the sort of form she was showing at the start of last year.
“Collins has lost her last six matches on the bounce and, despite being a former Australian Open finalist, it feels like another case of a top-ranked player suffering an early exit almost waiting to happen.”
George Patten: “Carlos Alcaraz could complete the Career Grand Slam at this year’s Australian Open, but something just doesn’t feel right.
“The Spaniard struggled at the ATP Finals last year as he battled illness, and his form on hard courts over recent months has been shaky, to say the least.
“On his day, Alcaraz can beat absolutely anyone on the planet. But over two weeks in Melbourne there will be plenty of players looking to cause an upset, and he may well suffer a second consecutive early exit at a hard-court Grand Slam tournament.”
Peter Lynch: “Simply because of his injury issues in recent times, having withdrawn from the United Cup, unfortunately I think Jack Draper will not be able to build on his superb run to the 2024 US Open semi-finals at the 2025 Australian Open.”
Lee Clarke: “The standard answer is Stefanos Tsitsipas but I’m actually going to go for Jack Draper to struggle at the 2025 Australian Open. There are injury concerns here for the talent from Great Britain and, although I hope I’m wrong, I see an early exit for the star.”
Liam Llewellyn: “Stefanos Tsitsipas struggled throughout 2024 and dropped outside the top 10 for the first time in five years.
“He played at the United Cup, but Greece were unable to qualify from their group. He has also reached the final at Melbourne Park before, but I do not see him making that sort of impression at the Australian Open.
“Despite her excellent 2024 campaign, I also see Jasmine Paolini failing to have a strong run at the 2025 Australian Open.
“She was unable to guide Italy to United Cup glory, and she is yet to make an impression at the hard court majors in contrast to her journeys to the French Open and Wimbledon finals.
“Despite her higher ranking of number four and avoiding the top three until the semi-finals, I can see Paolini failing to reach the last eight or evening making the second week.”
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