Seven Men Withdraw From 2026 Australian Open

The men’s first-round matches at the 2026 Australian Open contain some fascinating matchups. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner are the title favorites, but 10-time winner and last year’s semifinalist Novak Djokovic will try to stop his younger rivals. Some high-profile players also withdrew from the tournament, including two ranked inside the Top 20. This article details who cannot play and names their replacements.

Seven Men Withdraw From Australian Open

Jack Draper was the highest-ranked man to withdraw from the Australian Open. Last year’s Madrid Open runner-up has not played a professional match since the opening round of the US Open in August because of an arm injury. He initially hoped to be ready for the start of 2026, but that has not proven possible. Draper’s new goal is likely to be fit for his BNP Paribas Open defence in March.

Holger Rune was the other Top 20 player to withdraw from the Australian Open. He sustained a severe Achilles injury at October’s event in Stockholm, retiring from his match against Ugo Humbert. That issue is expected to keep him out for several months, and Rune hopes to return this season. Hopefully, his recovery is swifter than many anticipate.

Matteo Berrettini was the latest withdrawal from the season’s opening Grand Slam. The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up made that decision after the draw was made. In a statement, the Italian said he was suffering from pain in his obliques and was not ready to play over five sets. Berrettini has been plagued by injuries in recent years, hindering his chances of becoming a consistent fixture at the top of men’s tennis.

Arthur Fils’s lengthy absence from the ATP Tour will continue at the Australian Open. The talented Frenchman has not played since August’s National Bank Open because of a stress fracture first sustained before his scheduled third-round match against Andrey Rublev at the French Open. Currently, there is no timeline for when he might return to professional action in 2026.

Thanasi Kokkinakis, Emil Ruusuvuori, and Arthur Cazaux were the players who withdrew from the event in Melbourne.

Who replaces those players in the draw?

Draper’s inability to compete opened the door for Vit Kopriva. The Czech’s sole previous main-draw appearance at the Australian Open came in 2024, ending in an opening-round defeat. He will face Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round of this year’s iteration, which both men probably view as a decent draw that gives them an opportunity.

Thiago Austin Tirante replaced Rune after the Dane’s decision to withdraw. The Argentine usually plays best on clay, but will try to demonstrate his hard-court talents in Melbourne. This will be his first main draw appearance in Melbourne, and he is set to face the home favorite Aleksandar Vukic.

Mackenzie McDonald received an opportunity as a lucky loser because of Berrettini’s inability to compete at the Australian Open. His joint-best result occurred at the year’s first Grand Slam in 2021, when he reached the fourth round. The 30-year-old currently sits outside the Top 100 after injury and form issues in the past 12 months, but remains a dangerous opponent. He will almost certainly need a great performance to have any chance of beating Alex de Minaur in the opening round.

Yannick Hanfmann, Carlos Taberner, Dino Prizmic, and Alexander Blockx were the other players who entered the main draw.