Argentines gear up for the Australian Open 2026: Who has the best shot at becoming a champion |
The 2026 tennis season is kicking into action, with the first major tournament of the year, the Australian Open, set to begin on Sunday. The Grand Slam, hosted in Melbourne under the intense heat of the Australian summer, will see at least 12 Argentine players taking to the courts.
In the men’s singles draw, world No.20 Francisco Cerúndolo will lead the way. The 27-year-old is not only the best ranked Argentine, but also the leading South American, with Brazilian Joao Fonseca close behind him at 30th.
The build up to the tournament wasn’t great for Cerúndolo, who fell in straight sets to Spain’s Jaume Munar (ATP singles ranked 38th) at the Adelaide International round of 16.
However, with his aggressive and powerful gamestyle, he remains Argentina’s best chance to make it all the way. He defends 100 points from a third-round result in 2025. He’ll debut against China’s Zhang Zhizhen (362).
A player who arrives better prepared for the tournament is Sebastián Báez (40), who’s enjoying a bit of a renaissance after a........