The first Grand Slam of the year takes place at the Australian Open in Melbourne as Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka look to defend their titles.
The season-opening major begins just 12 days after the start of the new year, but there are plenty of questions surrounding the fitness of Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper, while Andy Murray returns to Melbourne. But this time it’s in Novak’s corner chasing the record. Djokovic.
The world’s highest-ranked players automatically enter the tournament at the main draw stage, while 104 ranked players will enter directly into the singles draw, along with 8 wildcard entries and 16 qualifiers.
When is the 2025 Australian Open?
The 2025 Australian Open qualifiers began on January 6.
The main tournament (singles) begins on January 12, with the women’s final being held on January 25 and the men’s final being held on January 26.
Where will the 2025 Australian Open be held?
Rod Laver Arena can accommodate 15,000 people.
The Australian Open is held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, home of the Grand Slam tournament since 1988.
Melbourne Park has three show courts: Rod Laver Arena (Australia’s second largest indoor sports stadium, capacity 15,000), John Cain Arena (capacity 10,500) and Margaret Court Arena (capacity 7,500). there is.
When is the Australian Open draw?
The Australian Open singles draw will be held on Thursday 9 January at 2.30am UK time.
Australian Open Match Schedule
The tournament takes place daily from midnight UK time on the outside courts and from 1am on the show courts. For UK viewers, the night session starts at 8am.
January 12-14: Round 1 (Women and Men)
January 15-16: Round 2 (Women and Men)
January 17-18: Round 3 (Women and Men)
January 19-20: Round 4 (Women and Men)
January 21-22: Quarterfinals (women and men)
January 23rd: Women’s Semifinals
January 24: Men’s Semifinals
January 25: Women’s Final (8.30am UK time)
January 26: Men’s Final (8.30am UK time)
The Australian Open schedule also includes:
- Men’s and Women’s Doubles: January 14-26
- Mixed Doubles: January 16-25
- Wheelchair Event: January 21-25
- Junior Event: January 18-27
Australian Open top seeded player
Aryna Sabalenka poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the 2024 Australian Open for the second year in a row.
women’s single
1. Arina Sabalenka
2. Iga Swia Tech (POL)
3. Coco Gauff (USA)
4. Jasmine Paolini (ITA)
5. Chinwen Jeong (CHN)
men single
1. Yannick Sinner (ITA)
2. Alexander Zverev (Germany)
3. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
4. Taylor Fritz (USA)
5. Daniil Medvedev
Which British players are competing at the Australian Open 2025?
Emma Raducanu hopes to be in perfect shape ahead of the Australian Open.
Four British players have qualified for the women’s singles finals.
Katie Boulter She will be seeded in Melbourne this year after her best season to date, including two WTA titles (San Diego and Nottingham) and another final in Hong Kong.
Emma Radukanu They have advanced to the second round in each of the last three seasons and are hoping to continue going further in 2025.
She withdrew from the ASB Classic in Auckland last week due to back problems, but will hope to be ready for the Grand Slam after winning the 2021 US Open and hiring renowned fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura to help end her fitness issues. .
Sonai Kartal I entered the main draw for the first time. Jodie Burrage It is in protected rank.
Jack Draper is feeling good, but can he recover from his hip injury in time to play in his first Grand Slam in 2025?
UK no. 1 jack draper He is set to lead the men’s singles line-up after reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open and has risen to a personal best of No. 15 in the world.
Draper came into the year having missed the United Cup team event in Sydney due to a hip injury and will be playing competitively for the first time since losing at the Paris Masters in late October.
Cameron Norrie And a rising star Jacob Fernley Both have direct entry into the main draw.
Is Andy Murray coaching Novak Djokovic in Melbourne?
Novak Djokovic and his new coach Andy Murray practice at Melbourne Park.
If you haven’t heard, Djokovic announced the surprise appointment of longtime rival and good friend Andy Murray to his coaching team in late November.
Britain’s two-time Wimbledon champion Murray ended his career at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August.
But the 37-year-old has decided to take up his first coaching role with Djokovic’s side in a blockbuster link-up with Serbia targeting a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and historic 25th Grand Slam crown. Will Murray’s presence be enough to lead Djokovic to Grand Slam glory?
How much is the Australian Open prize money?
Jannik Sinner holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup high after winning last year’s Australian Open.
The Australian Open’s total prize money has increased by 11.56% year-on-year and the singles winner of this year’s tournament will return home with a check of 3.5 million Australian dollars (about 1.74 million pounds).
Full prize money breakdown for 2025:
Champion: A$3,500,000
Runner-up: A$1,900,000
Semi-finalist: A$1,100,000
Quarterfinalists: A$665,000
Round 4: A$420,000
Round 3: A$290,000
Second round: A$200,000
Round 1: A$132,000
eligible
Round 3: $72,000
Round 2: $49,000
Round 1: $35,000
Melbourne Park Key Statistics
Novak Djokovic is aiming to win a historic 25th Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
3 – Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to win her third consecutive women’s singles title at Melbourne Park. This was Martina Hingis’s last win, which she achieved between 1997 and 1999.
24 – The number of Grand Slam singles titles Novak Djokovic has tied with Margaret Court for the most in tennis history. If one more record is set, Djokovic will have the sole record.
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