Seven Canadians Set for Singles Action at the 2026 Australian Open
As the tennis world shifts its focus to Melbourne Park for the first Grand Slam of the year, Canada will be well represented in both the men’s and women’s singles draws at the 2026 Australian Open. A total of seven Canadians-five via direct entry and two through qualifying-are set to take the court in the main draw, signaling a strong national presence down under.
Men’s Singles: Auger-Aliassime Leads the Charge
Felix Auger-Aliassime enters the tournament as Canada’s top hope and highest seed at No. 7.
The Montreal native is coming off a stellar 2025 season that saw him climb to a career-best year-end ranking of No. 5.
He’ll open his campaign against Portugal’s Nuno Borges. If he handles business early, a potential fourth-round showdown with Daniil Medvedev could be one of the marquee matchups of the tournament’s first week.
Denis Shapovalov, seeded 21st, also arrives in Melbourne with high expectations. He’ll face Chinese wild card Yunchaokete Bu in his opener. Shapovalov’s draw could bring him face-to-face with Norway’s Casper Ruud in the third round-a matchup that would test both players’ shot-making and mental toughness.
Gabriel Diallo, another Montreal product, has a tall task ahead as he lines up against No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev in the first round. It’s a tough assignment, but Diallo has shown flashes of the kind of power and athleticism that can trouble top-tier opponents.
Meanwhile, Liam Draxl is stepping onto tennis’ biggest stage for the first time in a Grand Slam main draw. After grinding through three rounds of qualifying, the Newmarket native will face Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur in his debut. It’s a big moment for Draxl, who’s earned this shot with persistence and poise.
Women’s Singles: Rising Stars and Familiar Faces
On the women’s side, Victoria Mboko makes her Australian Open main draw debut as the 17th seed. The 19-year-old from Burlington has been one of the most exciting young names in Canadian tennis, and she’ll start against Australian wild card Emerson Jones.
If Mboko advances, she could meet World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16-a potential breakout moment for the Canadian teen.
Leylah Annie Fernandez, seeded 22nd, opens against Indonesia’s Janice Tjen. Fernandez, who’s no stranger to deep Grand Slam runs, could run into defending champion Madison Keys in the third round. That’s a matchup that would pit Fernandez’s counterpunching and court craft against Keys’ raw power.
Marina Stakusic, another Canadian making her Australian Open debut, earned her place through qualifying and will face Australian wild card Priscilla Hon in the opening round. Stakusic has been steadily climbing and will look to make a statement in her first main-draw appearance.
Doubles and Beyond: Dabrowski Eyes Another Run
In women’s doubles, Gabriela Dabrowski returns to Melbourne with a new-old partner in Luisa Stefani of Brazil. The duo previously found success together, including a title at the 2021 National Bank Open and a semifinal run at the US Open that same year. Now reunited, they enter the tournament as the No. 5 seeds and are expected to be a serious threat in the draw.
Mboko will also compete in doubles alongside American Iva Jovic, while Fernandez teams up with Hungary’s Timea Babos, a seasoned doubles veteran. The women’s doubles draw kicks off on January 17, and there’s plenty of reason to believe the Canadian contingent could make waves.
Wheelchair and Junior Competition: Shaw and Lagaev Represent
In the men’s quad wheelchair draw, Rob Shaw returns to Melbourne with a strong track record, having reached the quarterfinals in both 2023 and 2024. Shaw has been a steady force in the quad division and will look to push even further this year.
On the junior side, 17-year-old Nadia Lagaev will compete in the girls’ singles main draw. Ranked No. 28 in the ITF junior rankings, Lagaev is part of the next wave of Canadian talent hoping to follow in the footsteps of players like Fernandez and Mboko.
With seven players in the singles main draws and representation across doubles, wheelchair, and junior events, Canada is showing up in force at the 2026 Australian Open. From seasoned contenders to rising stars and first-time qualifiers, the depth of Canadian tennis is on full display in Melbourne. Keep an eye on these names-they’re not just participating, they’re here to compete.