AUSTRALIAN OPEN SPECIAL EDITION ALSO INCLUDES FEATURES ON HOW SUPER COACH DARREN CAHILL KEEPS PRODUCING WINNERS AND WHY RUSSIAN-BORN DARIA KASATKINA TURNED TO AUSTRALIA

Australian tennis super star Alex de Minaur opens up on his dogged rise to the world’s top 10 rankings, and how he’s bounced back from a 2025 that left him in a “very dark spot”, in a revealing cover story in Good Weekend magazine’s annual Tennis issue.

As the world’s best tennis players descend on Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, Tennis magazine celebrates the 2026 ‘Happy Slam’ and will be published through The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald this Saturday, January 17, produced by Good Weekend. It will also appear online in the BrisbaneTimes and WAtoday.

The issue features a mix of stories, profiles and lifestyle content which reflect the Australian Open’s unique blend of sport and spectacle. It is the fourth year the edition has been published.

De Minaur tells Good Weekend deputy editor Konrad Marshall that after a bruising last year that saw him lose in the ATP Finals in Turin to Lorenzo Musetti, he was in a dark place but is more determined than ever to make 2026 a watershed year. 

In sport, results mean a lot, right? And this was a feeling after having a couple of matches not going my way, and me putting myself in great positions to succeed, but not being able to get over the line and take that next step,” says de Minaur. “That was a very tough moment of dealing with not only the loss, but the way it happened. As well as I’ve played this whole year, there’s matches and situations that I need to improve on for me to get there, and I stumbled in a pretty big tournament.”

“I think it probably is more difficult to handle knowing how close you are, seeing it within grasping distance, but you just somehow are not able to get there. It just frustrates you even more that you can’t take that next step.”

Elsewhere in the issue, Marc McGowan delves into the methods used by Aussie ‘super coach’ Darren Cahill that has resulted in four grand slam winners, all ranked No.1, during a long and distinguished career; and Billie Eder interviews Russian-born player Daria Kasatkina, who speaks candidly about the events which led her to switch her nationality to Australian in 2025.

With millimetres being the difference between winning and losing, the role of data now plays a huge role in tennis. Once only the wealthiest players could afford to crunch the numbers on their opponents, but Tennis magazine takes a look at how easily accessible data is now being widely used to gain a winning edge.

Stephen Brook reports on the ongoing evolution of the AO’s lifestyle offerings from dining, to entertainment and fashion, while Damien Woolnough offers fashion tips and Frances Mocnik rounds up gorgeous tennis bracelets for those wanting to have a ‘glam slam’.

“The Australian Open is a focal point for Australians each January as the world’s tennis greats descend on Melbourne Park,” says Good Weekend editor Melissa Stevens. “Our annual Tennis magazine aims to capture the spirit of the AO as the sport’s “happy slam”.

“This is the fourth year we’ve published Tennis and it’s a real joy for the Good Weekend team to curate a deep dive into one of the most popular sporting events of the year. This edition is a must-read for any fan of tennis.”

Tennis illustrates the power of the Nine Group, which is uniquely placed to provide brands with optimal access to the action, with an enviable media ecosystem that allows marketers to call game, set and match on their campaigns.

Nine’s Commercial Director – Publishing Sales, Ashleigh Thomas, said: “Tennis magazine is an outstanding example of how Nine can extend partnership opportunities. Written by some of the country’s most regarded feature journalists, Tennis provides a prestige environment for brands to connect with a highly-engaged audience who are interested in one of the most loved events on the sporting calendar.”  

For more information:
Adrian Motte
Senior Communications Manager  
amotte@nine.com.au / 0415 271 339