Betting Predictions for the 2026 Australian Open Championships

Welcome to the first Grand Slam finals of the year. The 2026 Australian Open championship singles matches will be played this weekend, and both feature exciting players that tennis fans have come to love. 

Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 1 hardcourt player on the women’s tour, will try to win her third Aussie Open title in four years. Her opponent, Elena Rybakina, played her in this exact match in 2023.

On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic delivered a surprising upset in the Melbourne semifinals, eliminating Jannik Sinner and denying fans a fourth straight Slam final between Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. 

Does the 38-year-old Djokovic have enough left in the tank to win one more Slam and pass Margaret Court for the all-time record for most Grand Slam championships? 

Both underdogs should be taken very seriously in these matches. I’ve got some tennis betting predictions on how I think the matches could go below. 

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina Prediction

Sabalenka is the unquestioned master of hardcourt tennis right now, and that’s especially true on Melbourne’s fast surface. Accordingly, this line is showing her plenty of respect. 

But Rybakina has enjoyed her share of success against Sabalenka in head-to-head matches. They’ve played 10 times since the 2023 Aussie final, and Rybakina is 6-4 in those matches. All six wins were on hardcourt. One was just two months ago at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. 

If you asked me to merely pick a winner, I’d lean with the history at this event and pick Sabalenka. But this is handicapping, where costs have to be factored in. At +145, Rybakina is an excellent value buy against a player she knows she can beat on hardcourt. 

Prediction: Rybakina +145

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic Prediction

Djokovic gets a lot of praise for his performances at Wimbledon, but statistically, the Australian Open is his best Slam event. It’s Alcaraz’s worst.

Over the last two years, most tennis fans would agree that Alcaraz has overtaken Djokovic as a superior player. But Djokovic just beat Sinner – the No. 1 fast-court player in the world in 2025 – which would suggest that Djokovic has actually raised his game a bit above where he’s been recently. 

I think at cost, this is a no-brainer. Djokovic is playing healthy and inspired, and he’s made it no secret that he’s gunning for that record-breaking 26th Slam championship. He’s going to give this match absolutely everything he has. 

Will it mean as much to Alcaraz? Is that even possible? I would say no – especially as a big favorite in this range. Taking the plus money with Djokovic is an easy decision.

Prediction: Djokovic +250

2026 Australian Open Championship Finals: Best Bets

• Elena Rybakina +145
• Novak Djokovic +250