Gigi Salmon reflects on the women’s Grand Slams, the grind of the WTA Tour and why Elena Rybakina could be the player to watch in 2026, plus a note on Brit Joe Salisbury stepping away to manage anxiety.
Four different women won the Grand Slams this year. Aryna Sabalenka finished as year-end No 1, Elena Rybakina won the WTA Finals, Amanda Anisimova rose from No 36 to finish at No 4, Iga Świątek remains a six-time major champion, and Coco Gauff won the French Open and finished the year No 3. That variety underlines the depth and unpredictability in the women’s game.
Many top players stressed the need to find balance to cope with the relentless WTA schedule, which can take a physical and mental toll. Sabalenka took breaks through the year to recharge — she joked about resisting tequila in Mykonos — and has shown she can mix hard work with celebration. Świątek has openly said she will tailor her schedule so she enjoys tennis more and avoids burnout. Ons Jabeur stepped back in July to focus on wellbeing, revealing she’d been struggling physically and mentally for two years; she later announced her pregnancy, due in April.
Could Rybakina clean up in 2026?
Rybakina finished the season strong: wins in Ningbo, a Tokyo semi, and an undefeated run to the WTA Finals title, collecting $5.235m. Her power and timing make her unplayable when fully fit and focused. Consistency has sometimes been affected by illness and off-court issues — notably her coach Stefano Vukov’s provisional suspension earlier in the year. The WTA investigation found breaches of conduct; Rybakina maintained she was never mistreated, appealed, and in August Vukov’s ban was lifted and he returned to the box.
A fit, healthy and happy Rybakina will be dangerous in 2026, and her late-season form suggests she’ll be a major contender. The depth of the women’s game promises continued rivalries and unpredictable outcomes — as shown by differing end-of-season picks among Sky Sports Tennis pundits Tim Henman, Laura Robson and Jonathan Overend.
Men’s and British notes
On the men’s side, it was encouraging to see Cam Norrie recover from world No 91 in May to finish around No 27 and be seeded at the Australian Open. Jack Draper was touched on when reviewing the ATP season, and Britain’s doubles success continues: Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool sit among the best, with five Brits finishing in the top 10 in doubles this year.
Salisbury’s struggles with anxiety
Joe Salisbury, former world No 1 in doubles and a Tour Finals finalist with Neal Skupski, announced he will take a break due to anxiety. He described symptoms including heart palpitations, poor sleep and appetite, and a pervasive feeling of dread. Salisbury said he is unlikely to return to the tour until at least next April. Wishing him well is important; mental health breaks are increasingly recognised as necessary in elite sport.
British women and the off-season
Emma Raducanu withdrew from some post-season exhibitions due to a light bone bruise on her right foot. At world No 29 and working with coach Francisco Roig and new physio Emma Stewart, she can now prepare for the new season, which starts in Perth at the United Cup alongside Jack Draper and captain Tim Henman. Sonay Kartal and Fran Jones both finished inside the Top 100 and will aim to build on strong seasons. Katie Boulter will be hoping to stay injury-free and press those ahead.
There’s no real rest in tennis: exhibitions and warm-up events continue through the off-season. Sky Sports Tennis will show Draper’s return at the UTS and the Next Gen Finals, highlighting the new generation.
2026 winners (pundit picks)
Overend / Henman / Robson
Year-End No 1s: Alcaraz & Gauff / Sinner & Rybakina / Sinner & Sabalenka
Australian Open: Rybakina / Rybakina / Rybakina
French Open: Gauff / Świątek / Świątek
Wimbledon: Gauff / Sabalenka / Rybakina
US Open: Gauff / Anisimova / Sabalenka
Anyone outside Alcaraz or Sinner to win a Slam final?: No / No / No
Draper to make a Slam final?: Wimbledon / No answer / No answer
Thanks to everyone involved in Sky Sports Tennis this year and to viewers for watching. Tim is planning to work on his TikToks, Laura will juggle tennis with London Marathon training, and the team look forward to being back with you in 2026. Watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW and follow extra content on the Sky Sports app.