Australian Open 2024: How to watch, who is playing? What is the schedule? Are Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal playing?
The first tennis Grand Slam of 2024 is fast approaching. Melbourne will once again play host to the best players in the world who will battle it out to be crowned the Australian Open champion.
Djokovic added the French Open and US Open titles to his Grand Slam haul of 2023 and finished the year in style with further Masters 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Paris, before he also clinched the ATP Finals crown in Turin.
He will, however, face stiff opposition if he wants to claim a record-extending 11th Australian Open and 25th Grand Slam singles title.
It is hoped that Rafael Nadal will be in line to make his latest comeback from injury in time to feature in Melbourne, while the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner will all believe they can dethrone the Serbian.
In the women’s draw, the likes of defending champion Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and US Open champion Coco Gauff will be among the favourites, but there are potential contenders wherever you look, while British tennis fans will hope that Emma Raducanu will be fit enough to play in the tournament.
Read on for everything you need to know…
When is the Australian Open?
An extra Sunday has been added at the start of the 2024 Australian Open, meaning it runs from January 14 to 28.
How to watch and stream the Australian Open
Who is playing in the Australian Open?
The draw for the 2024 Australian Open has not been made but the usual suspects are likely to be in attendance.
Elsewhere, Medvedev, Sinner, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz are among the contenders.
One of the biggest talking points ahead of the event is whether or not Nadal will return to full fitness in time to feature. The Spaniard has been out of action since last year’s Australian Open, when he was beaten in the second round by MacKenzie McDonald.
The 37-year-old had surgery on his hip in the summer and saw Djokovic surpass his tally of 22 Grand Slams.
Nadal ‘still in pain’ and does not know if he will return at Australian Open
There are also question marks over former world No. 1 Andy Murray and home hero Nick Kyrgios.
In the women’s draw, defending champion Sabalenka will be among the favourites to retain her crown. The Belarusian claimed her first Grand Slam in Melbourne to start 2023 in style.
Australian Open highlights: Sabalenka roars back to beat Rybakina and claim maiden Grand Slam title
Sabalenka traded the world No. 1 spot in 2023 with Swiatek, who will also be fancied to make a strong run in Melbourne.
The Pole has won four Grand Slams but has only once made it past the fourth round of the Australian Open. She will be out to improve on that record.
What is the Australian Open schedule?
For the first time, an extra Sunday has been added at the start of the 2024 Australian Open. The action will get underway on Sunday, January 14 and conclude on Sunday, January 28.
What is the Australian Open format?
There will be 128 players in both the men’s and women’s main draws at the start of the tournament, which is a straight knockout until a winner is crowned.
The men play best-of-five-set matches, while the women compete over the best-of-three sets.
When is the Australian Open final?
The women’s final is up first and will take place on Saturday, January 27, before the men’s showdown a day later on Sunday, January 28.
Both finals will be held inside the iconic Rod Laver Arena.
What is the Australian Open prize money?
The 2024 Australian Open prize money has yet to be announced. Last year, there was a record AUD $76.5 million on offer, which included winner’s cheques of $2,975,000 for both Djokovic and Sabalenka.
We will update this page with a rundown of the 2024 prize money when tournament organisers release the information.
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