“All small details,” the Italian said.
“I would say the first matches you try to get used to that match feeling again, and then after you try to add something. We see what conditions we play in.”
MORE: AO 2026 men’s and women’s singles draws
Sinner is not only accustomed to winning at the Australian Open but also defending his title here, which is a new concept for Keys following her upset triumph over Aryna Sabalenka last year.
The American will enter AO 2026 on the back of the Brisbane International, where she faced Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, losing in straight sets. Keys, like Sinner, has worked on refining her game.
“One of my big goals this year is to force myself to be a little bit uncomfortable on court and try to actually implement some of the things we’re working on, as uncomfortable as those are in those big moments,” she said.
“I’m really trying to push myself to evolve and add more things to my game. That’s really just been my goal all off-season, is trying to learn new things. Then now the hard part of actually putting them in matches.”
Even though the 30-year-old is a seasoned campaigner, last year’s victory at Rod Laver Arena was her first major, and coming into AO 2026 as defending champion will be a new experience that will start with a first-round match against Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova.
