Sunday, February 1, 2026

The 2026 Australian Open: Promotions, Demotions, and Other Stats

2026 Australian Open Champions:
  • Carlos Alcaraz (Yokozuna)
  • Elena Rybakina (ex-Ozeki)

New Career Sanyaku Rank:
  • none

Sanyaku Rank Changes
Player (career rank if different) To From
Promotions
Alexander Zverev Ozeki Sekiwake
Jessica PegulaSekiwake Komusubi
Alex de MinaurKomusubi Maegashira
Ben SheltonKomusubi Maegashira
Elina Svitolina (ex-Sekiwake)Komusubi Maegashira
Demotions
Taylor FritzKomusubi Sekiwake
Madison Keys (ex-Ozeki)Komusubi Sekiwake
Felix Auger-AliassimeMaegashira Komusubi


Kinboshi:
("gold star" - prize awarded to a non-sanyaku ranked competitor for beating an active Yokozuna)
  • Two kinboshi for Elena Rybakina, for beating Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals and Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

Other noteworthy developments:

  • Elena Rybakina regained her former Ozkei (=Champion) rank by winning the second second grand slam tournament of her career - the first was the Wimbledon title in 2022.
  • Alexander Zverev and Cori Gauff were Sekiwake-Ozeki, having been demoted from Ozeki after the 2025 US Open. A semifinal in Australia was needed for immediate re-promotion - Zverev succeeded, but Gauff fell one win short.

Sanyaku Ranks Following the 2026 Australian Open

Men
Career rank 1/ East Current Rank West Career rank 1/
High Sanyaku (Senior Champion Ranks)
Y Carlos Alcaraz Y1 Novak Djokovic Dai-Y
Y Jannik Sinner Y2 - -
O Alexander Zverev O - -
Lower Sanyaku (Junior Champion Ranks)
- - S - -
S Taylor Fritz K1 Lorenzo Musetti K
K Alex de Minaur K2 Ben Shelton K

Women
Career rank 1/ East Current Rank West Career rank 1/
High Sanyaku (Senior Champion Ranks)
Y Aryna Sabalenka Y1 Iga Swiatek Y
Y Naomi Osaka Y2 - -
O Amanda Anisimova O Elena Rybakina O
Lower Sanyaku (Junior Champion Ranks)
O Cori Gauff S Jessica Pegula S
O Madison Keys K Elina Svitolina S

1/ Highest sanyaku rank achieved in a player's career
Inactive Yokozuna: Venus Williams
(k): kadoban
(o): Sekiwake-Ozeki