Jannik Sinner vs Hugo Gaston prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head, preview: Australian Open 2026

Sinner will be looking to complete a rare three-peat in Melbourne this year.

The Australian Open 2026 gets underway and the two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner will launch his bid for a historic three-peat and a fifth Grand Slam title overall facing Hugo Gaston in opening match on January 20, Tuesday.

Sinner enters as one of the tournament’s top favourites amid the ongoing rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, while Gaston brings an unpredictable, variety-filled game led by his left-handed spin and clever drop shots.

This matchup offers Sinner an ideal opening to build rhythm in best-of-five format, especially after a strong end to 2025 that included the ATP Finals triumph.

Gaston, a clay-court specialist with flair but limited success on hard courts, has never advanced past the second round in Melbourne and holds a challenging record against elite players.

The draw places Sinner in the bottom half alongside Novak Djokovic for a potential semi-final clash, making a smooth start crucial.

🎾Sinner vs Gaston🧐We take a look at the 52-week averages for @janniksin vs Gaston to identify the key battle grounds ⚔️#TennisInsights | @atptour pic.twitter.com/ayDVgMQ3q2

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) January 19, 2026

Match details

• Tournament: Australian Open 2026
• Round: First round
• Date: January 20
• Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
• Surface: Hard Court

Also Read: Australian Open 2026: Crowd chaos on opening day as record numbers flock to Melbourne Park

Preview

This first-round encounter looks heavily tilted toward Sinner, as one would expect. The head-to-head stands at 2-0 in the Italian’s favour (from earlier meetings in 2021), with Sinner winning convincingly in straight sets both times.

Gaston’s tricky lefty style, heavy topspin forehand, and frequent use of slices/drop shots can frustrate opponents early, but Sinner’s superior power, return game, and baseline consistency neutralize such tactics effectively on hard courts.

Gaston has struggled against top-10 players historically and lacks the serve or aggression to dictate prolonged rallies against someone of Sinner’s caliber.

He comes on the back of an opening round exit in Brisbane and then fell to Cameron Norrie in the round of 32 clash, after winning in the qualifying rounds.

Sinner’s exceptional movement, first-strike tennis, and mental strength in majors make him dominant in early rounds, with history being a testimony to the fact that he rarely drops sets to lower-ranked foes here.

We got the chance to watch Jannik Sinner in practice, and we thought we'd bring you along for the ride 🤝 pic.twitter.com/4xuzuUWO5v

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) January 19, 2026

Form

Jannik Sinner: L-W-W-W-W

Hugo Gaston: L-W-W-L-W

Head-to-head record

• Matches: 2
• Jannik Sinner: 2
• Hugo Gaston: 0

Stats

Jannik Sinner

• Sinner has a 22-4 win-loss record in Melbourne
• Sinner was the 2025 Australian Open champion
• Sinner has a 76.39 % winning record on hardcourt

Hugo Gaston

• Gaston has a 5-6 win-loss record in Melbourne
• Gaston reached the second-round at the 2025 Australian Open
• Gaston has a 49.56 % winning record on hardcourt

Jannik Sinner vs Hugo Gaston: Betting tips and odds

• Moneyline: Jannik Sinner -6300, Hugo Gaston +3000
• Spread: Jannik Sinner -10.5 (-1925), Hugo Gaston +10.5 (-125)
• Total games: Over 26.5 (+360), Under 26.5 (-111)
• 1st set winner: Jannik Sinner -1630, Hugo Gaston +856

Also Read: Top five title favourites in men’s singles at Australian Open 2026

Match prediction

Sinner should prevail comfortably in straight sets. This serves as a perfect tune-up for Sinner to gain confidence and momentum before facing tougher tests, like a potential third-round clash with Joao Fonseca or later encounters.

Having missed the pre-AO events, the Italian will be fresh and raring to defend his crown, on a surface where has always enjoyed tremendous success.

Result: Jannik Sinner to win in straight sets.

Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Jannik Sinner vs Hugo Gaston, first-round match at Australian Open 2026?

The opening round clash in men’s singles will be available for the Indian viewers on the Sony Sports Network on TV and its streaming service Sony Liv.

In the USA, the first Major of the year is being telecasted on the ESPN sports network and is being streamed on Fubo. In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on Eurosport. It will also be available for users on the Discovery+ app.

Full worldwide broadcast details here

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