The primary tennis Grand Slam of the yr is upon is as Melbourne Park performs host to the Australian Open 2024.
Right here’s what you should know concerning the match:
What are the important thing dates?
The Australian Open begins on Sunday, January 14 and runs by way of to the boys’s singles closing on Sunday, January 28.
The ladies’s singles closing will likely be staged the day earlier than.
The occasion’s 15-day length is a primary, given the match would normally start on a Monday, however an additional day has been added within the hope of avoiding late-night finishes.
Gamers qualify for the principle draw by being ranked within the prime 104, or by successful three qualifying matches (in qualifiers from January 8 to 11), or by wildcard.
How a lot is the prize cash?
The full prize cash for the match has elevated by 13 % this yr to face at 86.5 million Australian {dollars} ($57.83m).
The singles champions will win 3.15 million Australian {dollars} ($2.11m) every.
Who’re the favourites?
Each reigning champions will line up in Melbourne to defend their crowns, with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defending his males’s singles title and Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka competing to retain the ladies’s trophy.
Djokovic, 36, has received the Australian Open on 10 events and is the highest seed. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and Italy’s Jannik Sinner are ranked two, three and 4.
Alcaraz heads to Melbourne Park with none aggressive matches beneath his belt this season.
Prepared? PLAY 💥 pic.twitter.com/ccffFod5wr
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024
Sabalenk misplaced the ladies’s primary rating to Poland’s Iga Swiatek final yr.
America’s Coco Gauff is seeded third behind the pair after successful the US Open in September. Elena Rybakina, who received Wimbledon in 2022, is ranked fourth.
The most important identify to overlook out is Spain’s Rafael Nadal as he continues his rehabilitation from a hip harm however Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who received the 2021 US Open, returns from eight months out following surgical procedure on each her wrist and ankle. Japan’s Naomi Osaka additionally returns after giving start final July, hoping so as to add to her 4 main titles.
Main the cost 💪 pic.twitter.com/mLfAnQRwkJ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024
What occurred in Thursday’s Australian Open draw?
Djokovic begins his quest for a record-extending eleventh Australian Open title and twenty fifth Grand Slam crown total in opposition to one of many qualifiers.
The Serbian required therapy for a wrist drawback throughout his United Cup defeat by Alex de Minaur final week – his first loss in Australia for six years.
The 36-year-old has been given a comparatively light begin however might play Greek seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas within the quarterfinals in what can be a mouthwatering rematch of final yr’s closing.
King of Melbourne. Who will or not it’s this yr? 🏆 🤔 pic.twitter.com/oFqnvg8wrf
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024
In the meantime, Swiatek faces a difficult take a look at in opposition to 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.
Defending champion Sabalenka may even tackle a qualifier first whereas 2023 runner-up Elena Rybakina, who Sabalenka within the closing of the tune-up match in Brisbane, faces former world primary Karolina Pliskova.
Wimbledon champion Alcaraz meets French veteran Richard Gasquet.
The 20-year-old second seed is on the right track for a quarterfinal conflict with the rejuvenated Alexander Zverev, who goes up in opposition to fellow German Dominik Koepfer.
Tsitsipas squares off with Matteo Berrettini in one other tantalising opener, whereas twice-finalist Medvedev will begin in opposition to a qualifier.
Italian teen Jannik Sinner, who’s tipped to go deep at Melbourne Park, will face Botic van de Zandschulp.
Coming for the Melbourne crown 👑
The CHAMPION will likely be… 👀 pic.twitter.com/sXrYsEsiqM
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024
US Open champion Gauff faces Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, whereas Osaka, who received the title in 2019 and 2021, returns to Grand Slam tennis for the primary time since 2022 and is pitted in opposition to Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia in a difficult opener.
Angelique Kerber, who additionally made her comeback to the tour following a prolonged maternity break, will play 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins in her opener and will tackle prime seed Swiatek within the subsequent spherical.
Wild card Caroline Wozniacki, one other former champion and returning mom, will play twentieth seed Magda Linette.
Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who shocked Djokovic final week earlier than beating Alcaraz in a charity match, will spearhead native hopes and start his marketing campaign in opposition to Canadian former world quantity three Milos Raonic.
What time will the ties be performed?
The present courts begin at 12pm (01:00 GMT) whereas the day classes start an hour earlier on the outer courts.
The Rod Laver Enviornment, Margaret Courtroom Enviornment and John Cain Enviornment will host the night time classes which start at 7pm (08:00 GMT).
Each the ladies’s and males’s singles finals begin at 7:30pm (08:30 GMT).
