Australian Open 2023 Day 1: Order of play and schedule – When are Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek, Daniil Medvedev playing?

It is time for Grand Slam tennis to return for 2023 with the Australian Open kicking off on Monday 16 January at Melbourne Park and a host of big names in action.

Top men’s match – Rafael Nadal v Jack Draper

The clash between Nadal, the defending champion and holder of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, and Britain’s rising star Jack Draper is a hotly-anticipated one with many feeling the 21-year-old may have an outside chance if the Spaniard is not 100 per cent healthy.

Draper certainly has a big, aggressive game and can afford to play with abandon and little to lose against his legendary opponent. Can he pull off a huge shock? Of course, it’s very unlikely, but it is certainly possible.

Top women’s match – Sofia Kenin v Victoria Azarenka

This is a fascinating encounter between two former champions at Melbourne Park in the opening round.

Azarenka may be 33 years old now, but she is still the 24th seed and very capable of challenging into the second week of a Grand Slam. Kenin has had a tough few years since her triumph in Australia, but this could be the start of a resurgent year.

Brit watch

Monday’s order of play sees a host of Brits in action with Emma Raducanu seeking her second Grand Slam singles triumph, while Cameron Norrie is the highest-ranked of the bunch in the men’s draw.

Kyle Edmund, a former semi-finalist at Melbourne Park, has a tough test against Jannik Sinner, and Harriet Dart is also opening her campaign.

Show courts order of play, singles – Monday 16 January (all UK times)

Rod Laver Arena – from 00:00

Katerina Siniakova v Coco Gauff (7)

Yue Yuan v Maria Sakkari (6)

Rafael Nadal (1) v Jack Draper

– – –

Iga Swiatek (1) v Jule Niemeier

Marcos Giron v Daniil Medvedev (7)

Margaret Court Arena – from 00:00

Jessica Pegula (3) v Jaqueline Cristian

Herbert Hurkacz (10) v Pedro Martinez

Sofia Kenin v Victoria Azarenka (24)

– – –

Stefanos Tsitsipas (3) v Quentin Halys

Madison Keys (10) v Anna Blinkova

John Cain Arena – from 00:00

Jannik Sinner (15) v Kyle Edmund

Alison van Uytvanck v Petra Kvitova (15)

– – –

Sebastian Baez v Jason Kubler

Ajla Tomljanovic v Nadia Podoroska

Selected other courts

Emma Raducanu v Tamara Korpatsch – 1573 Arena, first match (court starts at 00:00)

Vasek Pospisil v Felix Auger-Aliassime (6) – Kia Arena, fourth match (court starts at 00:00)

Cameron Norrie (11) v Luca van Assche – Court 3, third match (court starts at 00:00)

Harriet Dart v Jil Teichmann (32) – Court 5, fourth match (court starts at 00:00)

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