Roger Federer’s Ex-Coach Tips Iga Swiatek to Win the First Grand Slam of 2026
Iga Swiatek's best run at the Australian Open was reaching the semi-finals in 2025.
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Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)
Iga Swiatek is preparing for the 2026 season on tour after having a really impressive 2025 campaign. The Polish star will kick off her next season at the United Cup in Perth, Australia, representing her country at the mixed team event. Roger Federer’s ex-coach Paul Annacone has tipped her to win the Australian Open.
The Australian Open is the only remaining Grand Slam silverware that Swiatek has yet to win on tour. She had conquered the Roland Garros on four occasions before she finally won her maiden grass-court title at the Wimbledon Championships in July, which took her major title tally to six. However, she had won the US Open in 2022.
Should Swiatek win the Australian Open, she will become the 11th woman in the Open Era to complete a Career Grand Slam. Also, she will become the first female player to win all four Grand Slams since Russian legend Maria Sharapova in 2012. Nonetheless, Swiatek hasn’t had the best of results in Melbourne.
She’s yet to reach a final at the Australian Open and had a chance of doing so last January after failing to beat eventual champion Madison Keys in the semi-finals. The run was her best at the event, and at that time, she had yet to win a title since partnering with Wim Fissette. Fissette and Swiatek’s partnership has yielded three titles, including a Grand Slam.
During a conversation on Tennis Channel, Annacone was asked to give his thoughts on who will likely win the Australian Open in the women’s singles. He predicted that Swiatek would win the title, but went on to acknowledge that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner might face each other in the final of the men’s singles:
Yes. I believe Iga Swiatek will get there next year and win the Australian Open. When it comes to the guys, nothing would shock me, but it’s tough to see both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner making it happen in 2026. Maybe one or the other.
Swiatek is currently in Perth with the Polish team ahead of the United Cup, which starts on Friday (January 2). The former World No.1 will compete alongside Hubert Hurkacz at the tournament. Having led her country to two consecutive runner-up finishes, Swiatek will hope to finally win the mixed event title for Poland.
Former ATP Player tips Elena Rybakina to win the Australian Open
Elena Rybakina finished the 2025 season on a high after going unbeaten in 14 matches. The former World No.3 won the Ningbo Open and had to play the Japan Open to secure her place in the WTA Finals. At the tournament, she stunned the tennis world, defeating Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka to win the title.
Former British player Greg Rusedski has tipped Rybakina to continue with the form next season. Rusedski revealed during the latest episode of Off Court with Greg podcast that the Kazakhstani can win the Australian Open in 2026. He noted that she looks to be playing her best tennis on the court:
Since then her results have improved dramatically and I think with that partnership she is going to go from strength to strength and contend for majors. I would not be surprised if she goes on to win the Australian Open but I think she is the hot tip to win Wimbledon this year, just because of her power game and everything that she went through in 2025. She seems to be back to her best.
Rybakina will open her 2026 campaign at the Brisbane International in Australia. She won the title in 2024 after beating Sabalenka in the final. However, Rybakina has performed well at the Australian Open. She reached the final of the Grand Slam tournament in 2023, but lost the title to Sabalenka.
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