Australian Open joy as Grand Slam winner snaps 13-match losing streak after two years
Photo by Simon Barber/Getty ImagesMatthew JohnsTue, January 13, 2026 at 3:02 PM UTC·2 min read
Something noteworthy has already happened at the 2026 Australian Open, even before the main draw has started.
There is a real possibility that history could be made at the Melbourne major this year. Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to win his first Australian Open and become the youngest man ever to complete a Calendar Slam.
Standing in his way could be two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner. Both he and Alcaraz are coming into this event in top form, looking to strengthen their hold over men’s tennis.
In the women’s singles, Madison Keys comes in as the defending champion. But it was a player from her past who made headlines early on: Sloane Stephens, who beat Keys in the 2017 US Open final, has just won her first match since 2024.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Stephens has had a tough couple of years both on and off the court.
Once ranked as high as world number three, the 32-year-old managed only five matches in 2025 while dealing with a foot injury.
It was not just injuries holding her back either. Coming into the 2026 season, Stephens was carrying a 12-match losing streak.
That run extended to 13 after an early exit at the ASB Classic last week. She had not picked up a win since Wimbledon’s first round in 2024.
Her struggles saw her fall outside the top 1000 in the WTA rankings.
Still, Stephens entered Australian Open qualifying thanks to a protected ranking – her first time in Slam qualifying since 2014.
It is not something the former world number three is used to, but Stephens got through it with a straight-sets win over Barbora Palicova, ending that long losing run.
After breaking her losing streak, Stephens is now preparing for a second-round qualifier against Australian player Olivia Gadecki.
Gadecki, who has been ranked inside the top 100 and is the reigning Australian Open mixed doubles champion, slipped down the rankings after winning just one main draw match last year.
This will be their fourth meeting, with Gadecki holding a 2-1 advantage after winning their two most recent encounters.
However, Stephens might take some confidence from having won their previous meeting at the Australian Open in 2024.
Their next match is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14th.
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