Andreeva, Anisimova, Pegula, or Paolini: Will any of them win their first Grand Slam in 2026?

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Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini are knocking on the door. These four tennis players have proven more than enough that they have the tennis skills to compete against the best and to win the most important titles. All four have lifted a WTA1000 trophy already, but they have yet to experience winning a Grand Slam.

The main issue for these four outstanding players is that two tennis stars, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, have dominated the circuit with an iron grip in recent years. Although both have had setbacks in some Grand Slams, the few opportunities they have surrendered have been seized by Coco Gauff, the third player in contention, Elena Rybakina, who is one to watch in 2026, or surprises like Madison Keys at the 2025 Australian Open or Barbora Krejcikova at Wimbledon 2024.

Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini will strive to win their first Grand Slam in 2026.

In fact, in that final, the Czech denied Jasmine Paolini the dream of lifting her first Grand Slam, and weeks earlier, Iga Swiatek also stood in her way at Roland Garros. This Italian player has demonstrated in the last two years, especially in 2024, that she can be a more than dangerous opponent, particularly on clay courts, where this year she conquered the Rome WTA 1000. It seems that on the clay of Paris, she may have a chance to etch her name in history, but she also performs quite well on other surfaces. She reached the final in Cincinnati this year, as well as the semifinals in the Miami Open. Therefore, it is presumed that she will be a contender this year.

Another player who has faced the disappointment of losing two consecutive Grand Slam finals is Amanda Anisimova, one of the top players of this year. The American closed the year ranked number four in the world and with the Doha and Beijing WTA 1000 titles under her belt. However, the bitter memory of the double bagel (6-0, 6-0) in the Wimbledon final against Iga Swiatek remains. She had a chance at redemption in the US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka, and although she showed a great performance, she fell prey to the tigress from Minsk.

Jessica Pegula also felt the claws of the Belarusian in a New York final. The American reached the final of the US Open in 2024, but Sabalenka once again denied her any chance of victory. Her highlights in 2025 included the Charleston WTA 500, Texas WTA 250 titles, and finals at the Miami Open and Wuhan WTA 1000, while in Grand Slams, she once again showcased her best at Flushing Meadows, reaching the semifinals but being defeated, once more, by Sabalenka.

Mirra Andreeva, on the other hand, has yet to reach a Grand Slam final. Her best result was reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros 2024, and this year she made it to the quarterfinals once again in Paris and at Wimbledon. After that, Conchita Martinez's pupil faltered. While not displaying her best tennis in the majors, she has shown in the WTA 1000 events what she is capable of. Especially in March, when she consecutively won the Dubai and Indian Wells WTA 1000, defeating Swiatek and Rybakina twice each, and Sabalenka in the California final.

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, the main obstacles to the potential success of these players

As evident in the paths of these four players, they have almost always collided on their journey to glory with Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek. In a moment where in men's tennis, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dominate, the WTA has also had a duo that ensures at least one Grand Slam per season, while the third contender is Coco Gauff. At 22 years old, she already has two major titles (US Open 2023 and Roland Garros 2025), making her the top candidate to challenge Swiatek or Sabalenka.

There are also other names like Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys, and hopefully Paula Badosa, who can also pose a challenge. But if Jasmine Paolini, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Mirra Andreeva want to compete for their first Grand Slam title, they must not only bring their A-game but also potentially face one of the two queens of the circuit. Not to forget, the dash of luck and chance that is always needed in these tournaments, which so far, has not favored any of them. Could 2026 be the year when one of them makes a breakthrough? It won't be for lack of tennis skills and determination for sure.
 

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Andreeva, Anisimova, Pegula o Paolini ¿Conseguirá alguna su primer Grand Slam en 2026?