“Zverev or Medvedev will win a Slam in 2026”: Nick Kyrgios drops bold prediction for 2026 season

Following a couple of decades of dominance by the Big-3, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev emerged as the principal stars of a generation expected to take over. However, both Nadal and Djokovic continued to win major titles for many years. While Medvedev won the 2021 US Open title, he fell in five other Slam finals, while Zverev has lost in the three finals he has played in major tournaments.

The last two seasons have seen new dominant names in the majors, albeit from a generation later than Medvedev and Zverev. Both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have split the last eight Grand Slam tournaments played, even facing each other in the last three consecutive finals. With Alcaraz at 22 and Sinner at 24, many see diminishing possibilities for Zverev to win a major title, or for Medvedev to claim his second crown.

However, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios backed two of his great rivals, stating that one of them could break the dominance of Alcaraz and Sinner next year. “Zverev or Medvedev will going to win a Grand Slam in 2026. I think that those two guys are going to be hungry,” the former World No. 13 commented during his appearance at the UTS last weekend. “Obviously Sinner and Alcaraz are the juggernauts and the titans. But I think that Medvedev and Zverev are sick of them winning all the Grand Slams. So maybe one of those two.”

The Australian was at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) in Hong Kong last weekend, an exhibition tournament where his presence on court was expected, but an injury prevented him from competing. Nevertheless, the Australian played a particular role, acting as coach for the Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

Taking advantage of his time in Hong Kong and the exhibition tournament—which was ultimately won by the Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo—Nick Kyrgios participated in a video for social media where he gave his hot takes for the next season, also choosing the player who will have their breakthrough. “I think that Mpetshi Perricard will break the Top 10,” he stated. “That’s one of my takes. I think that he’s got the best serve I’ve ever seen, so I’m expecting big things out of Perricard.”

In addition, the 30-year-old Australian also had words for the young sensation of the moment, Joao Fonseca. The Brazilian won his first title this season and secured his first victory against a Top-10 player, and having recently turned 19, he is already making a name for himself among the best. The South American currently appears as World No. 46 in the live ranking, with No. 42 being his best ranking so far. “I think that Joao Fonseca is going to make a deep run at a Grand Slam, like I’m talking quarterfinals or semifinals.”