Australian Open 2026: The older the ginger, the spicier it gets

Although they no longer maintain their peak physical condition in their later years, these once-brilliant stars with timeless class are shining brightly at this year’s Australian Open.

"Form is temporary, class is permanent." This saying perfectly describes what is happening at the Australian Open 2026, where Novak Djokovic, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Marin Cilic are making the younger generation shake their heads in disbelief with the Grand Slam champion-level tennis they deliver.

At 38 years old, despite being almost unable to compete with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner — the fresh faces of tennis — Novak Djokovic remains a vastly superior presence compared to the rest. Against Pedro Martinez and Francesco Maestrelli in the first two rounds this year, Djokovic played comfortably yet clearly showed his dominance.

Although he has not won a new Grand Slam for over two years and went through more than a year without an ATP Tour title, Djokovic has not stopped chasing tennis milestones. He completed his collection of top honors with the Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024; reached 100 ATP titles in Geneva 2025, then extended it to 101 with a trophy in Athens; became the oldest player to finish a season in the ATP top 4 during the Open Era; and most recently surpassed 100 match wins at the Australian Open with a first-round victory over Martinez.

Nevertheless, Stanislas Wawrinka — who defeated Djokovic in the 2015 Roland Garros and 2016 US Open finals — remains the veteran creating the most emotional moments at Melbourne Park this year. Entering the tournament at age 40 with a wildcard, many expected Wawrinka’s run to end quickly. However, the caliber of the three-time Grand Slam champion during the "Big 4" era is truly exceptional.

In his opening match, Wawrinka came from behind to beat Laslo Djere in four sets. Facing an opponent nearly 20 years his junior — Arthur Gea — in round two, "Stan The Man" lost the first set but ultimately proved stronger and more resilient as the match progressed. In the decisive fifth-set super tie-break, the Swiss player dominated, denying the Australian Open organizers the chance to bid him farewell (Wawrinka plans to retire after this season).

Facing Taylor Fritz in round three, regardless of the outcome, Wawrinka’s final run at Melbourne Park will be truly memorable.

As for Marin Cilic, he may not attract as much attention as the other two veterans, but the experienced Croatian player is charging forward with commanding victories. In round one, Cilic defeated Daniel Altmaier 3-0, including two "double bagel" sets (6-0; 6-0). The 2014 US Open champion also needed just three sets to overcome 21st seed Denis Shapovalov, setting up a third-round encounter with either Casper Ruud or Jaume Munar.

With his unusual serve motion and powerful shots from both forehand and backhand, Cilic remains a formidable opponent on the Tour at 37 years old.

In the women’s draw, former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova is regaining her form after a serious injury that nearly sidelined her from the WTA Tour last season. The Czech player has consecutively defeated Sloane Stephens, Janice Tjen, and will face reigning champion Madison Keys in the round of 16.

Magda Linette — the runner-up at the 2023 Australian Open — continues to find success at the "Happy Slam" with a smooth start to this season. Additionally, other veterans like 45-year-old Venus Williams and Laura Siegemund have made significant marks, although their runs have ended.

On the other hand, several young stars have disappointed at the first Grand Slam of the year, including Joao Fonseca, Alexandra Eala, Dino Prizmic, Maya Joint, and others. Improving their competitive mindset and physical conditioning will be crucial for these players moving forward.