As we make our way toward the 2026 season—which begins Friday, January 2 on Tennis Channel with the United Cup—our Tennis Channel analysts and editors tackle the most important questions of the new year.
VICTORIA DUVAL: Elena Rybakina is more likely to win a Grand Slam tournament in the short term. She is going into 2026 with tremendous momentum and confidence, having captured the WTA Finals title with victories over both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. She hasn’t made a major final since the 2023 Australian Open, but I would argue she has less mental scar tissue compared to Amanda Anisimova, who has had more recent major success but two difficult defeats at Wimbledon and the US Open.
COCO VANDEWEGHE: I would love to say both, but If I had to choose one I would to go with a first Slam for Amanda Anisimova, which would be an amazing story. Anisimova finished at No. 359 in the WTA rankings at the end of 2023. Two years later, she finishes at No. 4 with back-to-back Grand Slam final finishes. But both women definitely have it in them to do next year.
VICTORIA DUVAL: Elena Rybakina is more likely to win a Grand Slam tournament in the short term. She is going into 2026 with tremendous momentum and confidence, having captured the WTA Finals title with victories over both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. She hasn’t made a major final since the 2023 Australian Open, but I would argue she has less mental scar tissue compared to Amanda Anisimova, who has had more recent major success but two difficult defeats at Wimbledon and the US Open.
COCO VANDEWEGHE: I would love to say both, but If I had to choose one I would to go with a first Slam for Amanda Anisimova, which would be an amazing story. Anisimova finished at No. 359 in the WTA rankings at the end of 2023. Two years later, she finishes at No. 4 with back-to-back Grand Slam final finishes. But both women definitely have it in them to do next year.