Wilson has expanded its Tennis 360 program with a class of six new head-to-toe athletes ahead of the Australian Open, led by world No. 6 Alex de Minaur. The announcement adds Karen Khachanov, Jiří Lehečka, Anastasia Potapova, Colton Smith and Sarah Rakotomanga to the initiative. All six already compete with Wilson racquets.

“Wilson has been part of my tennis journey since I can remember,” De Minaur says. “I’ve always loved playing with their racquets, and it feels very special to now represent them from head to toe.”

The brand introduced Tennis 360 in 2023 with Marta Kostyuk, and the roster has grown to 16 athletes who represent Wilson from head to hand to toe. Each signing receives a fully customized kit tailored to their needs and will work with Wilson’s research and development team to help shape future product launches across sportswear, footwear and racquets.

“I love the look and feel of the brand, and the way they bring their kits to life is incredible. I am excited to continue working with Wilson to build upon their legacy and the momentum of the industry at large.”

“Wilson has been in the game for over a century and remains obsessively curious and dedicated to innovating for today’s stars and tomorrow’s legends,” says Gordon Devin, General Manager of Softgoods at Wilson. “We are committed to seeing our athletes thrive, and by building upon our Tennis 360 roster, we are empowering our athletes to compete and win in style.”

Kostyuk has played a central role in shaping Wilson’s sportswear and footwear design, including the Wilson Intrigue, the brand’s first women’s-only shoe, which launched in 2025. Victoria Mboko also enjoyed a breakout year with Wilson, jumping from No. 300 to No. 18 in 2025.

Wilson’s involvement in tennis extends beyond its athlete roster. The brand maintains longstanding racquet partnerships with Roger Federer and Aryna Sabalenka, and serves as the official ball of both Roland Garros and the US Open.

Across a series of expert ballots for the 2026 Australian Open, two names dominate the conversation. Jannik Sinner is the most frequent selection on the men’s side, while Aryna Sabalenka is the repeat choice among predictions for the women.

Sinner appears as the consensus favorite in many projections, with other men’s selections including Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Bublik. Several pundits flagged Medvedev as a likely finalist, noting he has already captured a title in 2026 and looks to be in form. One contributor framed the current gap at the top by observing that the 1000th-ranked man is closer to Alexander Zverev at No. 3 than Zverev is to Sinner at No. 2.

On the women’s side, Sabalenka is repeatedly chosen to win, with Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva also named as potential finalists. Sabalenka’s recent hard-court results in Australia and an early-season title in Brisbane figure prominently in predictions. Naomi Osaka is noted as a former two-time Melbourne champion who nearly reignited a comeback in a Grand Slam match last year.

Dark-horse candidates were plentiful in the ballots. Joao Fonseca drew attention as a first-time seeded major player who withdrew from warm-up events and could make his maiden second-week run if healthy. Belinda Bencic was singled out after returning to the Top 10 and going undefeated in singles at the United Cup. Jakub Mensik, age 20, arrives off an Auckland title described as his first ATP crown since 2025 Miami. Karolina Muchova’s Brisbane semifinal and new coach Sven Groenefeld were also cited. Others mentioned as outsiders include Valentin Vacherot, Iva Jovic, Frances Tiafoe, Victoria Mboko, Learner Tien, Alexander Bublik and Marta Kostyuk.

The collection of picks underlines a familiar theme: a settled favorite at the top of both draws and a long list of players capable of producing the surprise run that makes the Australian Open unpredictable.

The Australian Open staged its first Opening Ceremony on Saturday, a new formal start that leads into the commencement of the main draws. The evening’s show centered on Roger Federer, who returned to Rod Laver Arena for the first time in six years in a special exhibition billed as the “Battle of the World No.1s”.

Federer, a six-time Australian Open champion, paired in doubles with Andre Agassi. They started the exhibition against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt. A surprise substitution later in the night saw Ashleigh Barty step in to replace Agassi, creating a memorable, crowd-pleasing change to the line-up.

Among those watching courtside were Federer’s parents and Novak Djokovic. Photographs from the night captured the mixture of celebration and reverence, from fireworks above the court to close moments on the court. “Welcome back, Roger!” summed up the mood in the arena, reflected in the applause and the intimate snapshots taken as the event unfolded.

The exhibition also revisited the rivalry between Federer and Agassi: “Agassi won the pair’s first three meetings, before Federer ran away with the final eight.” That line underlined the sense of history threaded through the evening.

Next to Tim Henman, Federer’s parents Robert and Lynette were pictured documenting the scene. The ceremony blended star power with nostalgia and provided a showcase night ahead of competitive play.

Off court, the event carried a note about the future of the game’s icons. Federer will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame this year; Barty is a projected lock for 2027. The opening-night format offered fans a chance to see former champions in a relaxed, celebratory setting while setting the stage for the tournament’s main-draw action.