Jannik Sinner is set to take part in a unique pickleball exhibition match in Melbourne as part of the build-up to the 2026 Australian Open. He will be accompanied by Naomi Osaka in the event.
Jannik Sinner-Naomi Osaka Face-Off
According to a report by TravMedia, the exhibition is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026, and will be staged at 1 Hotel Melbourne, with the match taking place in the riverside parklands surrounding the newly opened venue. The event will be closed to the general public, with attendance restricted to a small, invited group of media, making it one of the most exclusive lead-up events to the year’s first Grand Slam.
TravMedia described the contest as one of the most unexpected additions to the Australian Open’s pre-tournament calendar, offering an informal and relaxed environment that contrasts with the typically high-pressure atmosphere surrounding Grand Slam preparations. The intimate setting is expected to allow unusually close access to two of the sport’s most high-profile athletes during one of the busiest periods of the tennis season.
Event organisers have emphasised that the matchup is designed as a light-hearted exhibition rather than a competitive fixture. While full details of the match format are yet to be confirmed, the showcase is intended to highlight pickleball’s rapidly growing crossover appeal among elite tennis players and audiences worldwide. Pickleball, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, has surged in popularity in recent years, particularly in North America, before expanding its footprint globally.
Sinner, currently ranked world No. 2 in the men’s ATP standings behind Carlos Alcaraz, continues to establish himself as one of the leading figures of the next generation of men’s tennis. His appearance in the exhibition adds further profile to the event and highlights pickleball’s increasing relevance among the sport’s elite.
Also Read: Australian Open Announces Record Prize Pool For 2026
Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion is a co-owner of Miami Pickleball Club in Major League Pickleball, one of the sport’s premier professional leagues. Her participation further underscores pickleball’s appeal to top-level tennis professionals seeking new avenues of engagement with fans.
The exhibition is expected to form part of a broader series of promotional and media activities in Melbourne as anticipation builds ahead of the Australian Open, which begins later in January.
