The depth of the ATP Tour could not be stronger, with a number of exciting unseeded players heading into the Australian Open with a point to prove.
The entry list for the 2026 Australian Open has been confirmed, with the top 32 seeds confirmed for the first Grand Slam of the year.
While the seeds look strong this year, some huge names have missed out on the top 32 and could be a danger to the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Here are five players who could upset the apple cart at the Australian Open by knocking a seeded player out early.
Ugo Humbert
Ugo Humbert heads into the Australian Open ranked as the World No. 37, but he has more than proved that he can be a danger to the top players.
The Frenchman has claimed seven ATP titles in his career and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 13 in his career.
Who will win the 2026 men’s Australian Open?
He suffered a dip in the rankings after ending his season before the Paris Masters, but Humbert is far better than his unseeded entry suggests.
Having already returned to the sport at the UTS Grand Finals, the Frenchman will be fit and raring to go Down Under.
No one will fancy a first round draw against Humbert at the Australian Grand Slam.
Arthur Fils
Before his unfortunate withdrawal against Andrey Rublev at Roland Garros, Arthur Fils looked like he could crash into the ATP elite.
He reached a career ranking high of World No. 14 earlier this year and he’s one of the most hotly tipped stars on the ATP Tour.
There are still questions marks around his back injury, but Fils will be a danger for anyone on the Tour in the first round of the Australian Open.
Fils beat Rublev and Alexander Zverev in 2025, so he’s more than proved that he can compete with top 10 players.
Hubert Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz is another player who had his 2025 derailed by injuries, having missed every tournament since dropping out of the US Open.
The Polish star’s peak is far higher than his current ranking of World No. 73, having already claimed two Masters titles in his career.
He is still only 28 years old and there is every chance the Pole could create more incredible achievements in his comeback.
If Hurkacz can shake off the rustiness immediately, he will be very dangerous for anyone he gets in the Grand Slam draw.
Grigor Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov’s withdrawal against Sinner at Wimbledon was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the year.
The star was two sets up against the eventual Grand Slam winner, but a pectoral issue ruled him out of the match.
Nevertheless, Dimitrov proved that he can still scare the best players on the tour and he will be looking to make a mark on the tour once again upon his return.
Dimitrov is far better than his World No. 44 ranking suggests and he could be one to watch at the tournament.
Jenson Brooksby
He might be ranked outside of the top 50, but Jenson Brooksby’s rise up the rankings in 2025 has been extraordinary.
The American started the year unranked and he’s ended the season at a stellar World No. 53 in the ATP Tour rankings.
While he is not seeded for the Australian Open, an ATP title win and another final proved he belongs at the very top of the rankings.
This could be the last Grand Slam that Brooksby is unseeded for, so no one will want to play him at the tournament.
