Tennis fans and experts have branded this year’s instalment of the Australian Open the most boring in recent memory, pointing to a severe lack of high-quality matches and compelling drama at the ‘Happy Slam’.
Jannik Sinner’s easy victory over Ben Shelton on Thursday night fuelled an avalanche of criticism online, with a huge number of fans complaining that the results have been far too predictable and short on upsets.
The huge gulf in class between the rest of the men’s field and top seeds Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has also come in for heavy criticism.
Tennis author Bastien Fachan summed up many fans’ feelings when he posted, ‘The entire men’s AO could have been a Slack DM two weeks ago,’ on Wednesday night, around the time Sinner beat Shelton.
His remark – which is a slightly different riff on the time-honoured ‘this meeting could have been an email’ joke – drew a huge response.
‘Fought for my dear life watching them all,’ one commenter wrote.
Jannik Sinner is pictured after beating Ben Shelton at the Open on Wednesday night. The lopsided victory kicked off an avalanche of posts from fans and experts who say this year’s tournament has been a yawn-fest
Pictured: Many fans agreed with this comment that the best part of the Open was the $1million One-Point Slam event, which was held before the main draw even began
Sentiments like this one were repeated over and over online on Thursday night
Former world No.4 turned TV commentator and coach Brad Gilbert (pictured) said the tournament has been ‘one-way traffic’ due to the lack of close matches
‘Even the women’s side has barely had any exciting matches,’ another added.
‘Sadly this has been a very flat and predictable tournament,’ a third commented.
Former star Brad Gilbert – who was once ranked No.4 in the world before moving into coaching and TV commentary – backed up the ‘boring’ take with a few receipts.
‘Only one 4-setter in rd of 16 in men’s @Australian open. One 4-setter in quarters, all 4 women in semi haven’t dropped a set, this has been one-way traffic slam so far, needs some great matches in last 6,’ he wrote late on Thursday night.
Another popular tennis account on X posted, ‘The first AO since 1989 to have only 1 r4 match finish in 4 or five sets. Where are all the good matches? We never get any good/captivating slam matches until the finals anymore… it’s a big worry.’
The negative takes just kept coming in waves, both in posts and in the comments sections.
‘Can’t remember a grand slam with so few compelling matches,’ one wrote.
‘Tennis should be concerned,’ said another.
Some fans complained about the huge gulf between the rest of the men’s field and top seeds Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (pictured)
Some fans and experts used statistics from the 2026 Open to prove their point (pictured)
Fans at this year’s tournament (pictured with Jannik Sinner) have had to put up with long queues, blazing heat and a distinct lack of long, drama-filled clashes on the court
‘Crazy how the Australian Open this year peaked at the 1 point slam,’ wrote a third fan, referring to the $1million, winner-takes-all novelty tournament that featured amateur players and stars from TV and other sports before the main draw started.
‘Commentator just said that There were no 5 setters at the Rod laver Arena this year… 41 Matches played….Explains how mediocre this AO was,’ another post read.
‘Almost died today. A robber came into my house with a loaded gun and aimed at me. Luckily, Australia Open 2026 was playing on the TV. He suddenly started watching and fell asleep. Thank God,’ another poster joked.
Lots of tennis nuts also complained about the lack of challengers to Alcaraz and Sinner, who have steamrolled the opposition this year and look like near certainties to contest the singles final on Sunday night, Melbourne time.
‘Genuinely how can anyone find men’s tennis interesting when the same 2 people keep winning over and over again and the other opponents look like clowns when they play them?’ one fan asked.
‘This. Nadal’s retirement was the final nail in the coffin. ATP is dead and I am tired of pretending it is not,’ another comment read.
Some of the statistics on the closeness of matches at this year’s tournament prove the fans aren’t imagining things.
There have been 61 straight-sets wins in the men’s draw at the time of writing. There were 45 in the entire Open last year.
Only 20 men’s singles matches have gone to five sets so far, compared to 29 at this stage of the draw in 2025.
