Rising Stars and Established Champions Fuel Growing Asian Interest at Australian Open 2026
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – A surge of talent from across the Asia-Pacific region is poised to amplify interest in the Australian Open 2026, with Japanese players leading the charge. From wheelchair stars to emerging juniors, the tournament is witnessing a significant increase in portrayal and viewership from the region.
world No.1s Tokito Oda and Yui Kamiji are favored to contend for the men’s and women’s wheelchair titles, respectively, while recent Australian Open junior champions Rei Sakamoto and Wakana Sonobe have both qualified for the main draw – a testament to the growing strength of Japanese junior tennis. This increased presence is felt throughout the entire three-week Australian Open experiance.
Japan represents the Australian Open’s fifth-largest broadcast market, a position solidified by a long-standing partnership with WOWOW, a broadcaster that has covered the tournament as 1992. This relationship has fostered a dedicated fanbase, which has grown significantly alongside the success of Japanese players on the court.
Between 2012 and 2019, Kei Nishikori’s consistent deep runs – reaching four Australian Open quarterfinals – captivated a Japanese audience. This culminated in a viewership peak of over 20 million when Naomi Osaka claimed the 2019 women’s singles title in a thrilling match against Petra Kvitova.
That 2019 final was Japan’s most-watched television program of the year and ranked among the country’s highest-rated event broadcasts in the previous four years. Building on this momentum,Australian Open 2025 saw a 34% year-on-year increase in Japanese viewing hours,boosted by the participation of both Osaka and Nishikori,who both secured early-round victories.
Osaka, a former world No.1, has recently returned to the top 20 after reaching the final in Montreal and the semifinals of the US Open, further fueling anticipation for the tournament. This excitement was palpable at the recent AO 2026 Japan Launch event in Tokyo, signaling a continued and growing passion for the Australian Open within the country.
