Two of tennis's biggest stars are trading rackets for paddles. Naomi Osaka and Jannik Sinner will face off in a pickleball exhibition match ahead of the Australian Open.

Hotel Melbourne, Australia, is going to host a once-in-a-lifetime pickleball showdown between Sinner and Osaka on 15 January 2026. However, the attendance will be strictly limited.

As the highest-paid female athlete in the world for three back-to-back years, Osaka has shown commitment to the sport. She’s the co-owner of the Miami Pickleball Club in the Major League Pickleball. But as a player, her stance is growing. 

As the Australian Open approaches, the exhibition offers some friendly competition, with the help of Osaka and Sinner, draw more eyeballs to pickleball.

However, the match against Sinner won’t be the first pickleball game for Naomi Osaka. Back in March 2025, along with Nick Kyrgios, she hosted the 2nd Annual Desert Smash Celebrity Pickleball Challenge in La Quinta Resort Tennis Stadium. They brought together the biggest names from sports and entertainment for some on-court action. 

The year before, comedian Kevin Hart talked about a game he played with Osaka. Needless to say, he lost the bout against the Grand Slam champion. 

Hart stated,  “She made me understand the true definition of a pro and beat me 11-1…I got her right where I want her… this isn’t over god damn it!!!!!!”

Meanwhile, Sinner is already taking it seriously. 

Jannik Sinner Prepares to Beat Naomi Osaka in a Unique Style

Jannik Sinner has been honing his pickleball skills for a while now. Back in December 15, Explora Journeys' Instagram page showed Sinner practicing with his on-court coach, Simone Vagnozzi, Master of the cruise ship EXPLORA II, Captain Pietro Sinisi, and the lead doctor, Helenka. 

"The winner? Hard to say. The teamwork? Impossible to miss," Explora Jouneys wrote on the caption as the foursome practiced in the pickleball court on board the cruise ship.

Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka has been busy securing her future. The tennis icon Evolve at the end of 2025. While she was rumored to be joining IMG, she made the move official in a co-branded post on January 8.

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi