32-year-old former US Open champion Sloane Stephens has qualified for the 2026 Australian Open.
Sloane Stephens, GET IN 👌
The former Grand Slam champion is through to the #AO26 main draw, winning 6-1 7-5.@wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/okZ0sypLwG
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2026
Stephens has seen her ranking fall into the 1000s in recent years due to missing massive amounts of time with injuries. She barely played in 2025 spending her time working in tennis media for TBS/TNT and ESPN to cover the French Open and the US Open. Stephens also has many philanthropic and business ventures outside of tennis. As a result of that work, she became the first tennis player to win the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award in 2025.
Sloane Stephens, ranked No. 1097, is into the #AusOpen main draw with a 6-1, 7-5 win over No. 106 Lucia Bronzetti, who was seeded 2nd.
It’s the 1st time Sloane has won 3 straight matches in nearly 2 years since her WTA 250 title in Rouen.
*Huge* result for the 32-year-old USO…
— Hanlon Walsh (@HanlonWalsh) January 15, 2026
Since turning pro in 2009, Sloane Stephens has finished as a quarterfinalist or better at each Grand Slam.
Her best result in Melbourne is a semifinal finish in 2013.
Stephens won her lone Grand Slam against fellow American, good friend, and defending Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
Keys surprised the world last January when she played the tournament of her career taking out big players round after round culminating in a win over two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Is Stephens catching some of the Keys’ mojo?
Taylor Townsend Also Fighting For Singles Spot
Townsend, partnered with Katerina Siniakova, are the defending doubles champions; however, she is battling for a singles spot also. She will take on Aussie Storm Hunter, also more known for her doubles success, for a position in the Australian Open draw.
That draw will be revealed within hours and play begins on Sunday, January 18.
Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys will be defending their titles. Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek are seeking maiden Australian Open wins which will give them the career Grand Slam.
There are so many storylines, including injuries, that it is unclear how they will resolve. Ailing Joao Fonseca has not played competitive tennis yet in 2026 due to a back injury. Novak Djokovic practiced on Wednesday with a neck issue. Aussie fan favorite Thanasi Kokkanakis recently won his first match in nearly a year and was forced to retire in the subsequent round in Adelaide. He is intending to play singles (protected ranking) and reunite with Special K doubles partner Nick Kyrgios with whom he won the 2022 Australian Open.
