Tennis ACT CEO Mark La Brooy and Canberra International 2026 Tournament Director Lawrence Robertson. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Canberra International, held from 4 January to 10 January 2026 at the Canberra Tennis Centre, has firmly established itself as a vital lead-up tournament to the Australian Open.
The Canberra tournament’s significant place on the summer of tennis calendar has been reinforced with an increase in the total prize pool to $700,000, up from $513,689.
There is also a major development in the coverage of the Canberra International, with Channel 9 televising the tournament on one of their platforms for the first time.
Players now view the ATP 125 and WTA 125 tournaments as part of their vital hard-court preparation for the Australian Open, which starts two days after the Canberra International finals.
This year’s winner of the Canberra International, João Fonseca, was just 18 years of age when he lifted the trophy. He was ranked 145 in the world when he started the week at Lyneham.
By the end of the week, he had risen to 113. His confidence was at an all-time high heading to Melbourne.
He had to navigate three rounds of qualifying to make the main draw and made it through to the second round after beating world number nine Andrey Rublev in straight sets.
This year, Fonseca reached the third round of the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, and his ranking now stands at 42.
João Fonseca, winner of the 2025 Canberra International. Photo: Tennis ACT.
Tournament Director Lawrence Robertson said Fonseca’s performance is an example of the opportunity to witness first-hand the next generation of stars in the game.
“We’re excited to once again bring world-class tennis to the nation’s capital. In 2025, the tournament delivered an exceptional line-up, including 11 of the world’s top 100 players and some of Australia’s most promising rising stars,” Robertson said.
“The standout story last summer was Brazil’s João Fonseca, who arrived in Canberra fresh from winning the ATP’s Next Gen Finals. He dominated the week without dropping a set. His performances captivated fans young and old, and showcased exactly what makes the Workday Canberra International unique – the opportunity to see the sport’s future stars here and now.”
The Canberra International also offers a unique opportunity for the public to win $1 million in the 1 Point Slam on Saturday, 3 January, at the Canberra Tennis Centre.
Players will play just one point, the winner going through to the next round before there is an eventual winner. The winner of the Canberra tournament will go through as one of 10 amateurs to face 22 professionals in Melbourne as part of the Festival of Tennis build-up to the Australian Open.
Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tilley said the concept has attracted considerable interest from the professional players.
Tilley said, “I can reveal today that world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, will headline the pro player line-up in the Million Dollar 1 Point Slam—a thrilling new initiative where one point could win you $1 million.”
The 1 Point Slam adds to the ethos of the Canberra International, which has worked hard to become a community event, not just a tennis tournament.
Tennis ACT CEO, Mark La Brooy, said the community connection is crucial.
“The popular Kids Tennis Day will return on Thursday, 8 January, following its successful debut in 2025. The inaugural event drew the largest crowd on record outside of a semi-final or final day. This year promises another action-packed program with activities for all ages, including free entertainment throughout the day, such as face painting, glitter tattoos, and giveaways, with 100 free racquets up for grabs.”
Volunteers will again play a major role, with 100 local ball kids and 80 volunteers on the events team, while 75 local, interstate and international officials work on the tournament.
There will also be a significant boost to the ACT economy during a traditionally quiet time for hospitality in the city.
The Workday Canberra International runs from 4 to 10 January 2026. To see the next generation of tennis players compete in Canberra, get your tickets from Tennis Australia.
