The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, is set to kick off at Melbourne Park on Sunday. Whether you're a die-hard tennis fan or new to the sport, here is everything you need to know about how to watch the tournament, the schedule, the betting favorites, and more.
For viewers in the United States, the Australian Open will be broadcast on ESPN. Viewers from other countries can refer to the listed options for their respective broadcasters.
The singles schedule at the Australian Open follows a slightly different format this year, with play beginning on a Sunday instead of the traditional Monday start. This change has turned the event into a 15-day tournament. The first round for both women and men will take place on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. The second round will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the third round on Friday and Saturday. The fourth round will be played on January 21 and 22, leading to the quarterfinals on January 23 and 24. The women's semifinals are scheduled for January 25, followed by the men's semifinals on January 26. The tournament will culminate with the women's final on January 27 and the men's final on January 28.
In terms of betting favorites, Novak Djokovic is the top pick to win the men's title, with odds of plus-100 according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The second favorite is Carlos Alcaraz at plus-350. Djokovic, who clinched his 24th Grand Slam singles title at the U.S. Open last year, aims to maintain his dominance in Melbourne. Alcaraz, on the other hand, defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final last year, putting an end to his calendar-year Grand Slam hopes. In the women's category, Iga Swiatek leads the pack with odds of plus-220. She is followed by Aryna Sabalenka at plus-430 and Coco Gauff at plus-470. Notably, Naomi Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, returns to Grand Slam action and is listed at plus-3,600 following the birth of her daughter last July.
On the opening day of the tournament, Djokovic and Sabalenka will begin their title defenses by facing 18-year-old qualifiers on Rod Laver Arena during the first night session. Djokovic will face Dino Prizmic of Croatia, while Sabalenka will take on Ella Seidel of Germany. Other notable matches include Caroline Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, playing against Magda Linette, and Frances Tiafoe, the 2022 U.S. Open semifinalist, facing Borna Coric. Play on some courts will commence as early as 11 a.m. local time, with Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open runner-up, taking on Sara Bejlek.
To get up to speed before the Australian Open, various articles provide useful information. These include basic facts and figures about the tournament, questions surrounding Rafael Nadal's withdrawal, Naomi Osaka's return to tennis as a new mother, the transformed pressure on Coco Gauff, an overview of the draw, and articles featuring key players to watch.
For those looking to test their knowledge, the AP's Australian Open quiz presents a fun challenge. Moreover, interesting statistics to keep in mind are Novak Djokovic's 28-match winning streak at the Australian Open and Iga Swiatek's impressive 16-match overall winning streak.
As the Australian Open commences, tennis enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await the thrilling matches and memorable moments that this prestigious tournament always delivers.
