The first Slam of 2026 is in a month. Short holidays for all the Azzurri in the Top 100: Musetti has “reinforced” the technical staff, Jannik starts in Korea, everyone on the field in Asia and Oceania, in the United Cup Cobolli, Berrettini and Paolini
The 2025 season ended a few weeks ago, but tennis and the best Italian performers are already looking ahead. Between preparations overseas (Sinner in Dubai) and additions to the teams to make a further leap in quality (Perlas alongside Tartarini for Musetti) it is already time to think about 2026. A season that awaits the Italian tennis players for confirmations, turning points and returns. Between exhibitions, team competitions and 250 tournaments, our top 100 will all return to the court before the Australian Open, starting on January 18th.
rich performances and good tournaments
—
Jannik Sinner, the most anticipated, will play a match in Incheon, South Korea, against Alcaraz. A dream performance, scheduled for January 10, which could give a taste of what the next Australian Open will be like. Where the world no.2 will make his official debut in the new season, as a reigning two-time champion. Before him, the second Italian standard-bearer, Lorenzo Musetti, will break the deadlock at the ATP 250 in Hong Kong. The tournament, which starts on January 4th, saw the no. 8 in the ranking stopped in the quarter-finals against Munar. In addition to him, Lorenzo Sonego will also be there to replenish the Italian team, as in the 2025 edition (he stopped in the round of 16), on Asian soil.
Davis’s Romans
—
Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini, after their feats to give Italy their third consecutive salad bowl, are the names that spark the imagination the most for 2026, some to confirm themselves, some to find continuity at high levels. The world no.22 will take part in the United Cup together with Jasmine Paolini. The mixed team competition, with points valid for the ranking, will start on January 2nd; the Italian debut is scheduled for the 4th against Switzerland in Perth (the other team in the group is France) under the guidance of captain Stefano Cobolli, Flavio’s father. Matteo instead chose to open his 2026 at the Kooyong Classic, a traditional exhibition that precedes the Australian Open starting on January 13, won in 2024 by Jannik Sinner. A choice, although not an official competition, ideal for testing form and adapting with the right balance to Australian conditions before the Slam. Musetti and Cobolli himself are also registered, as well as Bublik and Kyrgios among others.
the big names but not only
—
Italy can boast eight representatives in the top 100, and there are three other highly ranked Italians who will be on the field in the first weeks of 2026. Luciano Darderi, no. 26 in the world and 4 in Italy, is registered for the ATP 250 in Adelaide, the last Australian tournament before the Slam, starting on 12 January (the reigning doubles champions are Bolelli and Vavassori). After three defeats out of three in 2025 between Hong Kong, Auckland and Melbourne, Luli is aiming for his first career victory on Australian soil. Instead Matteo Arnaldi and Mattia Bellucci, seventh and eighth Italian tennis players respectively, will take to the court in Brisbane from January 4th, therefore in the same week as Hong Kong. In the last edition Matteo stopped in the round of 16, against Opelka. For Mattia it will instead be the first experience Down Under at ATP level away from the Australian Open.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED