He was the player who won singles and doubles titles at the same Australian Open

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The 2026 Australian Open is right around the corner…

Jannik Sinner won the title a year ago (2025), Novak Djokovic won the title five (2021), and ten years ago (2016), Andre Agassi won the title 25 years ago (2001), and Mark Edmondson won the title 50 years ago (1976).

But who won the Australian Open 100 years ago?

The answer – John Hawkes.

Hawkes was dominant at the Australian Open in 1926, so much so that he picked up three Grand Slam titles at the same tournament!

John Hawkes won all three titles at the 1926 Australian Open

Australia’s Hawkes had already enjoyed success Down Under before 1926, winning titles in doubles and mixed doubles four years earlier.

He had yet to lift the singles trophy, however, something he was determined to achieve before the end of his career.

Competing as the number-four seed in 1926, Hawkes stormed to the title, winning the Australian Open singles tournament.

John Hawkes at the 1926 Australian Open

• 1926 Australian Open 2R [WIN] vs Ronald Ford, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2
• 1926 Australian Open 3R [WIN] vs Bob Fotheringham, 6-3, 6-0, 6-0
• 1926 Australian Open QF [WIN] vs Garton Hone, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-2
• 1926 Australian Open SF [WIN] vs James Anderson, 6-8, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4
• 1926 Australian Open F [WIN] vs Jim Willard, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1

He was also victorious in the doubles and mixed doubles events, winning three titles at the same Grand Slam tournament.

Returning in 1927, Hawkes was successful in two of his three title defences, but came up short in singles.

Hawkes lost to his fellow Australian, Gerald Patterson, in a five-set thriller, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 16-18, 3-6.

He never played another Grand Slam singles final, retiring with just one title to his name.

However, adding his doubles and mixed doubles successes to his tally, Hawkes won an impressive nine major titles.

John Hawkes’ Grand Slam final record

Hawkes remains one of the greatest players in Australian tennis history.

But can another Aussie replicate his success, 100 years on?

Can Alex de Minaur end the wait for a home Australian Open men’s singles champion?

The last Australian man to win the singles title in Melbourne was Edmondson, who lifted the trophy in 1976.

This year, there only really looks to be one man capable of ending the half-decade-long drought, and his name is Alex de Minaur.

The Aussie finished 2025 ranked seventh in the world and reached another two Grand Slam quarterfinals.

He is, however, yet to reach a Slam semifinal, something he’ll undoubtedly look to achieve in 2026.

Alex de Minaur’s record in Grand Slam quarterfinals

• 2020 US Open QF [LOSS] vs Dominic Thiem
• 2024 French Open QF [LOSS] vs Alexander Zverev
• 2024 Wimbledon QF [LOSS] vs Novak Djokovic (Walkover)
• 2024 US Open QF [LOSS] vs Jack Draper
• 2025 Australian Open QF [LOSS] vs Jannik Sinner
• 2025 US Open QF [LOSS] vs Felix Auger-Aliassime

To do so, he’ll need to get past Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the two tournament favorites.


What does Alex de Minaur need to change to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?

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De Minaur is 0-18 against the world number one and two, a record he must improve upon if he ever wants to get his hands on a Grand Slam trophy.

Only time will tell if De Minaur will beat the odds and win the Australian Open in 2026, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.

The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 18.