The first Grand Slam tournament of the 2026 season, the Australian Open, will begin on January 18th. WOWOW will broadcast the first Grand Slam of the year live every day. Ahead of the tournament's opening, five players, including men's singles players Shintaro Mochizuki and Rei Sakamoto, and women's singles players Naomi Osaka, Moeka Uchijima, and Himeno Sakazume, spoke about their enthusiasm.
◇Shintaro Mochizuki
How did you spend your off-season?
This season was long, so I took a week to 10 days off at the beginning, spending time with my family and having fun. After that, I went to the IMG Academy in the US to practice. I had intended to use that time only for tennis and training, and I think I was able to do that. However, I ended up hurting myself a little at the end, and had to return home before coming to Australia. That was disappointing, and it was a difficult start to the season. I'm fine now, and I'm practicing well. I think I'm ready.
-What was last year's season like?
It felt long to me. I think this was the year I was able to play the most matches against high-level players in high-level tournaments. I had a lot of good experiences. This year also had the most positive things of any year to date. I'm excited to be competing on the main stage of a Grand Slam again, so I'd like to make use of the atmosphere and other experiences.
--Your opponent in the first round is S. Tsitsipas. How do you feel about that?
I lost to my opponent in the United Cup (a mixed-team tournament held from the 2nd to the 11th) about two weeks ago, so I already know who he is. I'm up for a challenge, so I'm looking forward to seeing how far I can go against a player like this on this stage. I didn't even come to the Australian Open as a junior, and I've only been playing for a few years, so it's a new experience for me. I like the place and it's relaxing, so I just want to prepare my body, mind, and tennis as best I can for the match.
-Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm and a message to your fans who support you.
Happy New Year, everyone! I will be competing in the main draw of this year's Australian Open, and although I will be facing a tough match against Tsitsipas in the first round, I will give it my all, so please support me.
◇ Rei Sakamoto
--How do you feel now that you've made it through the preliminaries and qualified to play in the main tournament?
I'd like to take a break to refresh myself a bit until the 17th, and then get fully focused and fired up from the afternoon practice.
-How is your body and tennis playing now?
I think my tennis, body, and mental condition all worked well together. In particular, I won all three qualifying matches in straight sets because my service games were stable, and I was able to apply pressure on my opponent's serve and break the serve several times. I also didn't allow my opponent to break back, and I was able to play without giving my opponent many openings, so I think I was in really good shape.
-As a competitor in the main tournament, rather than a junior, how do you feel about the atmosphere at the venue?
I thought I could do a little better, but there are a lot of strong fighters like Alcaraz and Sinner, so I feel a bit out of place. If anything, I felt like I was walking with more confidence during the qualifying rounds (laughs). Now I feel cramped.
-You both advanced through the qualifying rounds, so what is your impression of your first round opponent, Hodal?
I think he's a really good player. In fact, I think he might even be stronger than the players competing in the main draw. He can move, he can serve, he can hit a forehand, he can return the ball, he's a player who can do anything. In any case, I feel like he's a complete player. Rather than saying he has a weakness, I think I simply need to play better tennis than he does. I don't have any particular strategies, but I think the only way to prepare is to play my best.
-Did you cut your hair short in preparation for the Australian Open?
I shaved my head on December 31st. How can I put it? I shaved my head after a battle that put my pride as a man on the line. I challenged a certain player to a ranking for the 2025 season. Well, I lost (lol). I was fired up.
--Please tell us your enthusiasm and message for this tournament.
I shaved my head and lost weight, and I think my movements have improved. I'll do my best in the main competition!
◇Naomi Osaka
-How was the One Point Slam (held as a special event during the opening week of the Australian Open)?
To be honest, I was pretty nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I didn't realize how serious everyone was, and some people were even warming up. But it was a really fun event. I could feel the energy on the court, and it was great to talk to the other players and see how excited everyone was for a Grand Slam.
-Are you getting closer to your goals by changing your playing style?
I think I'm going to surprise everyone at this tournament. Honestly, I'm confident in my current athletic ability, I know I can run, and I can play long points if I need to. But I also have a lot of regrets. I may have said this before, but I should have been more aggressive in some situations. It's always been difficult to find that balance, so I hope to do a better job of that this year.
-What is your impression of Ruzic in the first round?
I don't know much about her. I don't like to research my opponents before a match.
--This is the first Grand Slam of the season, how do you feel about it?
It's going to be a lot of fun. Of course, it's the first Grand Slam of the year, it's my first match of the year, so it's going to be very tough, but I'm very excited about my outfit, so I'm looking forward to it.
--To the fans.
Hello everyone, this is Naomi. Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to seeing you continue to play great tennis! Thank you.
◇Moeka Uchijima
How did you spend your off-season?
This year I was able to have a slightly longer off-season, so I relaxed in Japan for about three weeks. In December I returned to my base in China and trained as usual for about a month before heading to Australia.
-What is your impression of Sierra, who you will be facing in the first round?
To be honest, I don't really know. Of course, I've heard his name, and I think he's a player who has really risen to the top since Wimbledon last year. I've heard he's the type of player who hits the ball firmly. He's an Argentine player, but I don't think he's the type who plays persistently like South American players. I'd like to play my own game while skillfully varying the speed and timing to disrupt my opponent's pace.
--Please tell us your enthusiasm and message for this tournament.
Happy New Year everyone! This year's season starts with the Australian Open. This year, I would like to try new things in my own way. I hope you will continue to support me this season. First of all, I will do my best in the first round on the 19th.
◇Himeno Sakazume
--How do you feel now that you've made it through the preliminaries and qualified to play in the main tournament?
I had the day off after the qualifying finals, so I was able to rest up and savor the joy of seeing messages and contact from various people. From the 17th, I was able to fully switch gears and get myself into the right mood for the main tournament.
--How are you feeling now after three qualifying matches?
I played three matches: the first and second rounds were tougher than the scores suggest, and the final was just as tough physically and mentally as the scores suggest, but I didn't suffer any serious injuries and recovered well during the off-season. I think my tennis is in good shape.
-What was the atmosphere like at the venue where you walked as a competitor in the main tournament?
This is my first time experiencing the atmosphere of a Grand Slam main draw. I've had a lot of support from fans and spectators since the qualifying rounds, but I think only the Grand Slams are this lively even on days when there are no matches. I especially love the festive, upbeat atmosphere at the US Open and Australian Open, even when I'm playing, so I'm very happy to be able to play again.
-What is your impression of McNally, your opponent in the first round?
I think he plays powerful tennis, and he has a good serve and a strong impression of playing at the net. This has been the case since the qualifying round, but I want to set aside the idea that "my opponent is playing like this" and start doing what I can. If that doesn't work out, I want to continue trial and error as I play against my opponent.
-Are you nervous about your first main competition?
As it will be my first time playing on this stage, I will be a little nervous. However, I have played three matches so I think I will be able to play without being too nervous. My opponent is a strong player ranked in the top 100 in the world, but I will always be up for the challenge and want to give it my all.
--Please tell us your enthusiasm and message for this tournament.
Thank you to everyone in Japan for your support every day. This is my first time competing in a Grand Slam main draw, and I will do my best to win while enjoying every point. I appreciate your support.
*WOWOW will be exclusively broadcasting the Australian Open Tennis live every day during the tournament, from January 18th to February 1st. The first round of the men's and women's singles in the day session on Day 1 will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand from 8:30 AM on January 18th. The first round of the men's and women's singles in the night session on Day 1 will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand from 4:45 PM on the 18th.
