Naomi Osaka is already being hailed as the winner of the 2026 Australian Open, despite not yet playing a match in the tournament. Fans are declaring the former world No. 1 as the champion because of a prediction from a social media user who has accurately forecasted winners of Grand Slam tournaments in the past.
The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to take place from Jan. 12 to Feb. 1 at Melbourne Park, with the main draw matches starting on Jan. 18. Osaka has won the Melbourne Major twice in her career, first in 2019 when she defeated Petra Kvitová in the final, and again in 2021 when she overcame Jennifer Brady in the championship match.
Fans Call Naomi Osaka Australian Open 2026 Champion After Mystery Fan’s Prediction
The aforementioned fan’s first successful prediction came during the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, when they stated that the player who draws Veronika Kudermetova in the first round would go on to win the title. Barbora Krejčíková faced the Russian player in the first round and subsequently won the tournament by defeating Jasmine Paolini in the final.
A year later, during the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, the same fan predicted that the player who would face Polina Kudermetova in the first round would also emerge as the winner. This prediction proved accurate when Iga Świątek drew Kudermetova in the first round and later claimed her first Wimbledon title by beating Amanda Anisimova in the final.
In December 2025, days before the women’s singles draw for the 2026 Australian Open on Jan. 15, the fan predicted that the player facing Antonia Ružić in the first round would win the tournament. Recently, the women’s singles draw was held, and Osaka has been matched against Ružić for her first-round match.
“I’m calling it right now whoever draws Antonia Ruzic in R1 will win Australian Open 2026,” the fan had posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Given the fan’s history of accurate Grand Slam winner predictions, several tennis fans are already referring to Osaka as the winner of this year’s Australian Open. One fan remarked that the Japanese player is on her way to becoming a “three-time Australian Open champion.”
“Osaka you’re going to be a 3 time Australian open champion,” a fan posted.
Osaka you’re going to be a 3 time Australian open champion https://t.co/Fycuk4GNZB pic.twitter.com/nAhUgHGLqm
— slice and dice (@slice_szn) January 15, 2026
Another fan expressed that it seems the “whole universe” is supporting Osaka in her quest for the 2026 Australian Open title.
“Now the whole Universe wants you to get it !!!! So be it !!!!!@naomiosaka !!!! 🪼🪼🪼🪼🪼,” a fan wrote.
“NAOMI OSAKA AO 2026 CHAMPION CAMPAIGN STARTS NOW🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵,” a fan posted.
“She looks so calm and composed. She knows she drew Ruzic for R1 so the odds favor her heavily. This is your AO 2026 Champion right here,” a fan wrote.
She looks so calm and composed. She knows she drew Ruzic for R1 so the odds favor her heavily. This is your AO 2026 Champion right here. https://t.co/OP9bl6JNSZ
— Draqueline (@draqueline) January 15, 2026
Here are some other fan reactions:
“#5InMelbourne?” a fan posted.
“Congratulations Naomi Osaka 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥,” a fan wrote.
“OH MOTHER NAOMI COMING FOR HER 3RD AO TITLE!!!!” a fan posted.
OH MOTHER NAOMI COMING FOR HER 3RD AO TITLE!!!! pic.twitter.com/vuMulJLWIO https://t.co/NBOQmryya9
— London🎾🤸🏾💋 (@simoneismommy) January 15, 2026
Osaka and Ružić have never competed against each other on the WTA Tour, making their upcoming first-round match at the 2026 Australian Open a first-time encounter. The winner of this match will advance to face either Sorana Cîrstea or Eva Lys in the second round of the tournament.
