Iga Swiatek explained that while it is her dream to complete the career Grand Slam, it is not her main focus ahead of the Australian Open, while Aryna Sabalenka disagrees that it is a two-horse race for the title.

Swiatek clinched her sixth major at Wimbledon last year after her stunning display over Amanda Anisimova, adding to her four French Open crowns and sole US Open. 

However, she is yet to succeed at Melbourne Park, with her best run in the season-opening slam seeing her beaten at the semi-final stage in 2022 and 2025. 

Indeed, Swiatek is looking to become just the seventh player in the Open Era to win each of the four women's singles majors, after Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. 

"Honestly, since the beginning of the year, there have been many people coming to me and talking to me about it," Swiatek said of completing a sweep of all the majors.

"I'm really just focusing on day-by-day work. This is how it's always been for me.

"This is how I actually was able to achieve the success that I already have, just focusing really on grinding match by match."

The Pole will open her Australian Open campaign against Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue.

She holds a 26-1 career record in grand slam opening rounds – she only lost at this stage in a major to Viktorija Golubic in Wimbledon 2019. 

"Obviously it would be a dream come true [a career Grand Slam]," she said.

"But this is not my clear goal that I wake up with. I'm thinking more about how I want to play, what I want to improve."

Welcome back to Melbourne, @iga_swiatek #AO26 pic.twitter.com/RC6AhCRdIa

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2026

One of those expected to challenge for the crown is two-time winner Sabalenka, who faces wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah up first. 

Sabalenka was attempting to become the first woman to win three consecutive Australian Open singles titles since Martina Hingis in 1999, but lost in the final to Madison Keys. 

The world number one was also beaten in the French Open showpiece by Coco Gauff, but managed to clinch her fourth major title with her triumph at Flushing Meadows. 

Sabalenka is the active player with the highest winning percentage in women's singles at the Australian Open (82.4%, 28-6), and is one of the tournament favourites. 

But when asked if a long-awaited major final between herself and Swiatek was on the cards, Sabalenka identified other threats in the field.

"I think it's actually not only about me and Iga," she said.

"There is Coco [Gauff], Elena [Rybakina], Jessica [Pegula]. It's not only about me and her, to be honest."

Sabalenka also insisted that her defeat to Keys in last year's final was now behind her.

"That final was a tough one. She played incredibly. Took me a little time to recover," Sabalenka added. 

"We had matches after that. I kind of worked on my mistakes in those matches. Coming into this Australian Open, I'm not really focusing on that result last year.

"But, of course, I would like to do just a little bit better than I did last year."