Remembering all of your favourite tennis stars can be challenging, with players coming from all over the world to compete in the Australian Open.
It is only natural that commentators and fans will get it wrong occasionally, especially with many Brits, Americans and Aussies finding eastern European names a challenge to pronounce.
As a result, there are some big names that people have been saying incorrectly, such as Poland’s Iga Swiatek.
Thankfully for fans, the players themselves have outlined the correct way to say their names on the ATP and WTA websites.
Below are some of the superstars competing at Melbourne Park you might be shocked to learn you have been saying wrong, sometimes for years.
And yes, some will shock you.
Iga Swiatek of Poland has grown accustomed to people mispronouncing her surname
Iga Swiatek
She has five grand slam titles to her name – but people are still getting Polish sensation Iga Swiatek’s name wrong.
The 23-year-old previously set the record straight, and the result is not quite as straightforward as you might think.
There are actually two different ways to say her surname, the traditional Polish way [Słitek], or the English way.
She is happy with either, although in her words ‘Polish is better.’
In English, her surname is commonly pronounced SVIER-TEK.
But the full and correct pronunciation of her name is EE-GAH SH-VEON-TICK.
So credit to Aussie commentator Jelena Dokic for nailing the pronunciation in a live post-match interview with the no.2 women’s seed this week.
Carlos Alcaraz was in good touch when he outclassed Nuno Borges to move into the fourth round of the Australian Open
Carlos Alcaraz
At just 21, the Australian Open is the only Grand Slam that has eluded Alcaraz to date.
While his surname may seem simple, they say it differently in Spain.
US and Aussie commentators often say his last name AL-CAH-RAZ or AL-CAH-REZ which seems phonetically correct.
But the correct way to say his name is AL-CAH-RATH. Carlos is just pronounced like your vehicle has been stolen, CAR LOSS.
Think you know how to say Novak Djokovic like a Serbian? Guess again – the grand slam legend (pictured, at Melbourne Park) has warned his name is difficult to get right
Novak Djokovic
When you have won 24 grand slams – including 10 Australian Open titles – you would think people would get your name right.
But the Serbian is constantly having his surname pronounced incorrectly by fans and commentators alike.
It is fairly common to pronounce his surname as JOCK-O-VITCH, but that is incorrect.
In the proper Serbian language, his name is pronounced JOE-KO-VITCH.
‘It’s not easy to pronounce,’ Djokovic has stated previously.
‘Let’s say I appreciate the effort that people put into it to pronounce it properly.’
Here is a hint on how to say Danish star Holger Rune’s last name properly: it does not rhyme with ‘tune’
Holger Rune
The Danish star has been ranked as high as No.4 in the world and will be looking to make even bigger strides in 2025.
The 21-year-old has enormous potential and will look to go beyond the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time in his career.
On first glance, his name seems pretty straightforward to pronounce with many saying HOL-GAH ROON.
However, in correct Danish, you pronounce his surname ROON-EH.
Naomi Osaka pulled out of the Australian Open two years ago after falling pregnant – but is back in 2025
Naomi Osaka
Unfortunately for tennis fans – but joyously for her – Osaka was a late omission from the Open two years ago due to the fact she was set to welcome her first child into the world.
She has returned in 2025, and is looking in ominous form ahead of the third round.
Many might be asking why she would be on a list like this, with neither of her names appears particularly challenging.
However, numerous fans have pronounced her surname OH-ZARKA, when the proper Japanese pronunciation is OH-SAH-KA.
