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Coco Gauff helps America achieve impressive Australian Open feat that hasn’t been reached for 29 years

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Coco Gauff arrives at the Australian Open looking to win her first-ever Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

Gauff’s win over Iga Swiatek at the United Cup started the American’s season in style and she is one of the favourites to win the Australian Open.

The 21-year-old has only ever reached as far as the semi-finals of the Melbourne event, which came in 2024.

Gauff, along with several other American stars, have helped America break a 29-year streak at the Australian Open dating back to 1997.

Coco Gauff of the United States during a practice session ahead of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

19 American men will compete at the Australian Open

There will be 38 American players in the singles draw across the men and women’s game, which is the most for nearly three decades.

In the men’s draw, most of the players earned their route through thanks to their ranking. Sebastian Korda, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Reilly Opelka, Jenson Brooksby, Emilio Nava, Marcos Giron, Alex Michelsen, Eliot Spizzirri all gained entry into the main draw thanks to their top 100 ranking.

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Six American male stars managed to earn seeding for the event, with Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Learner Tien, Taylor Fritz, Brandon Nakashima, and Ben Shelton all receiving favourable early round draws.

Four American men managed to come through qualifying, including two-time NCAA Champion Michael Zheng, as well as Zachary Svajda, Martin Damm, and Nishesh Basavareddy.

One American man managed to land a wild card for the event, as Patrick Kypson will play the Australian Open for the second time in his career.

The 19 American women who will compete at the Australian Open

The American women are just as represented as the men, with 19 stars set to compete at the Down Under Grand Slam.

Only one American woman managed to come through qualifying, with former Grand Slam winner Sloane Stephens returning to the Grand Slam fold.

Caty McNally, Katie Volynets, Hailey Baptiste, Alycia Parks, Ann Li, Ashlyn Krueger, and Peyton Stearns all gained main draw entry.

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Credit: Sofascore

Seeded entry went to Iva Jovic, Gauff, Emma Navarro, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Sofia Kenin, and Amanda Anisimova for their top 32 ranking.

Meanwhile two American women were given a wild card for the event, on different ends of the spectrum. Elizabeth Mandlik will play her second Australian Open thanks to a wild card, while Venus Williams will play the tournament she has previously won five times.