Overview
- Defending champion Madison Keys is tuning up in Adelaide as the second seed with a first‑round bye before returning to Melbourne.
- Keys opened 2026 with a Brisbane quarter-final run that ended against Aryna Sabalenka, a loss she said offered useful early-season feedback.
- She and coach Bjorn Fratangelo are prioritizing strategies to handle the demands of being a major winner, with added emphasis on net play and bolder shot selections.
- World No. 1 Sabalenka arrives as the favourite following a 2025 season that included the U.S. Open title, four trophies overall and nine finals.
- A two-time Australian Open champion, Sabalenka retained the Brisbane crown without dropping a set and targets a fourth straight Melbourne final after Keys ended her 20-match AO win streak last year.