TENNIS SHOCK: SAM QUERREY PREDICTS JANNIK SINNER WILL WIN ALL FOUR GRAND SLAMS THIS YEAR
Former No. 11 Sam Querrey backs Jannik Sinner for a 2026 Calendar Grand Slam while predicting a major title drought for Carlos Alcaraz.
Sam Querrey, who used to be ranked No. 11 in the world, doesn’t see Carlos Alcaraz adding any more Grand Slam titles in 2026. Instead, he’s backing Jannik Sinner to pull off something huge: winning all four majors in a single season.
Right now, Alcaraz and Sinner are dominating the sport. Between them, they’ve split the last eight Grand Slam titles—two each in both 2024 and 2025. These two keep running into each other in the biggest matches. Alcaraz took the French Open and US Open finals, while Sinner grabbed the Wimbledon crown.
Alcaraz has racked up six majors so far: two each at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Sinner has four: two Australian Opens, plus one each at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Here’s some context. Since the start of the Open Era in 1968, only Rod Laver has managed to win all four Grand Slams in the same year. It’s that rare.
Querrey, along with fellow Americans Jack Sock and John Isner, talked about the upcoming season on the Nothing Major podcast. Querrey didn’t pull any punches: “My bold take is Sinner wins all four majors this year.”
He tossed out another question: “What’s more likely: Sinner winning all four, or someone besides Sinner and Alcaraz winning one?”
Sock jumped in first: “Sinner winning all four [is more likely].”
Isner wasn’t buying it. He thinks the streak ends: “I think, on the men’s side, we’ll have a Grand Slam winner who isn’t Sinner or Alcaraz.”
Querrey also owned up to a bad prediction he made about Alcaraz in 2024. Back then, Alcaraz was struggling, and Querrey went on record saying he’d finish 2025 ranked fifth in the world. “Not like two or three; five!” he insisted.
Then Alcaraz stormed back, won the 2025 US Open, and ended the season back at No. 1. Querry didn’t hide from it. “It was an awful take from me last year. Awful take. My apologies, Carlos. I was dead wrong! We swing and miss occasionally.”
WHY ARYNA SABALENKA’S CLINICAL DEMOLITION OF MUCHOVA MAKES HER THE MELBOURNE FAVORITE
Aryna Sabalenka beats Muchova to reach her third straight Brisbane final. She faces giant-killer Marta Kostyuk for the 2026 title.
Aryna Sabalenka powered past Karolina Muchova in straight sets on Saturday, booking her spot in the Brisbane International final for the third year in a row—just a week out from the Australian Open.
Sabalenka looked sharp. Muchova, who’s had the upper hand in their last three matches and actually holds a winning record against the world number one, came in as a real threat. But Sabalenka didn’t care about history. She broke Muchova once in each set, kept her foot on the gas, and closed out the semifinal 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes. Now, she’ll face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in Sunday’s final.
On the men’s side, Daniil Medvedev, the former world number one, gets unseeded American Brandon Nakashima in the final.
“I’ve struggled against her before,” Sabalenka said about Muchova. “But today, I stayed focused from the start, played some great tennis, put her under pressure, and I’m happy to get it done in straight sets.”
The 27-year-old from Belarus feels her game is clicking more with every match in Brisbane—she hasn’t dropped a set yet. With seven of the world’s top ten in the draw, she says this is perfect prep for Melbourne, where the Australian Open starts January 18. Sabalenka’s eyeing her third Australian Open title in four years.
“Honestly, compared to my first match here, I can feel my level going up,” she said. “That’s huge before Melbourne. It’s about building form, playing tough matches, and getting ready for what’s next. I’m really happy with how it’s going and can’t wait for the final.”
Kostyuk, ranked 26th, absolutely steamrolled world number six Jessica Pegula, 6-0, 6-3, in just 55 minutes—a masterclass in power and aggression. That’s three top-ten wins in a row for her. Before Pegula, she took out world number three Amanda Anisimova in the third round, then ninth-ranked Mirra Andreeva in the quarters.
“Today was just one of those days where everything goes right,” Kostyuk said, grinning. “Honestly, I haven’t had many matches like this, especially against top-10 players. It’s a huge bonus, especially in these tough Brisbane conditions—hot and humid.”
Kostyuk has never beaten Sabalenka in four tries, but she’s not feeling the pressure.
“All the pressure’s on her. I just want to go out, play well, and give the crowd a good show,” she said. “I’ve got nothing to lose.”
In the men’s semifinals, Medvedev beat American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-2, and Nakashima knocked out another American, Aleksandar Kovacevic, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
FOUR IN A ROW? THE RECORD-BREAKING STAT COCO GAUFF JUST SET AGAINST IGA SWIATEK
Coco Gauff dominates Iga Swiatek at the United Cup. Poland advances to the final as Swiatek opts for private Australian Open prep.
Coco Gauff handed Iga Swiatek a tough loss in the United Cup semi-final, stopping Swiatek’s unbeaten run at the tournament. Gauff took control early and never really let go, winning 6-4, 6-2. That win kept the United States alive after Taylor Fritz lost to Hubert Hurkacz in the first match.
Swiatek hadn’t dropped a singles match at the United Cup before running into Gauff, who now has Swiatek’s number—four straight wins. After the match, Swiatek went online to share how she felt about her first loss of the season.
Even with Swiatek losing, Poland still clinched a spot in the final thanks to Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zieliński, who beat Gauff and Christian Harrison in doubles. Next up for Poland: a showdown with Switzerland. Swiatek is set to face Belinda Bencic in singles.
On Instagram, Swiatek admitted the loss stung but tried to keep things positive. “Challenging day for me today, but some important lessons to be learned. I’m super grateful for my team and their passion,” she wrote. She also praised her teammates for fighting through and getting Poland to the final: “What a fight tonight! See you in the final tomorrow with another chance.”
Before Gauff stopped her, Swiatek had beaten Eva Lys, Maya Jantchou, and Suzan Lamens in singles at the United Cup.
So, what’s next for Swiatek before the Australian Open? There’s a week between the United Cup and the start of the tournament, but she’s not playing any warm-up events. While other top players are heading to Adelaide or Hobart, Swiatek has decided to train in private instead.
She’s made it clear before that she isn’t a fan of the crowded WTA schedule and doesn’t mind taking a sanction if it means skipping some tournaments. So, it’s not really shocking she’s sitting out before Melbourne.
Historically, the Australian Open hasn’t been her best Grand Slam—she’s never won it, and her deepest run was the semi-finals. The last time she got that far, Madison Keys knocked her out before going on to win the whole thing in 2025. Now, Swiatek’s looking for another shot at the title that’s eluded her.