Australian Open 2024 schedule: When does play start UK time? When is the draw? When do the sessions start?
The 2024 Australian Open will soon be under way in Melbourne.
Novak Djokovic will be the defending men’s champion and will be aiming for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to defend the women’s title she won last year by beating Elena Rybakina in the final.
With the Grand Slam fast approaching, we run through everything you need to know about the schedule, when play starts each day in UK time, when the finals are, and how to watch on Eurosport and discovery+.
When is the 2024 Australian Open?
An extra day has been added at the start of the Australian Open, meaning this year it runs for 15 days from January 14 to 28.
What is the 2024 Australian Open schedule?
Qualifying gets started on Monday, January 8 and finishes on Thursday, January 11.
The main draw then kicks off on Sunday, January 14 and concludes with the men’s final on Sunday, January 28.
Play starts at midnight UK time each day, with the night sessions getting under way at 8am UK time.
Australian Open 2024 schedule
- Monday, January 8 – Thursday, January 11: Qualifying
- Sunday, January 14: Men’s and women’s first round singles
- Monday, January 15: Men’s and women’s first round singles
- Tuesday, January 16: Men’s and women’s first round singles
- Wednesday, January 17: Men’s and women’s second round singles
- Thursday, January 18: Men’s and women’s second round singles
- Friday, January 19: Men’s and women’s third round singles
- Saturday, January 20: Men’s and women’s third round singles
- Sunday, January 21: Men’s and women’s fourth round singles
- Monday, January 22: Men’s and women’s fourth round singles
- Tuesday, January 23: Men’s and women’s singles quarter-finals
- Wednesday, January 24: Men’s and women’s singles quarter-finals
- Thursday, January 25: Women’s singles semi-finals
- Friday, January 26: Men’s singles semi-finals
- Saturday, January 27: Women’s singles final, men’s doubles final
- Sunday, January 28: Men’s singles final, women’s doubles final
How to watch and stream the Australian Open
When is the 2024 Australian Open draw?
The date for the Australian Open draw has not yet been confirmed but it is likely to be held on Thursday, January 11.
How will moving to 15 days impact Australian Open?
There will now be a minimum each day of two matches, down from three, on Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena.
Australian Open organisers say this is to “limit the potential of late finishes” as when the day sessions run late then the night sessions start later, and hence have the potential to finish later.
Who’s playing at the 2024 Australian Open?
The 2024 Australian Open will see several comeback stories.
Rafael Nadal is set to play at the Grand Slam after almost a year out.
The 37-year-old will make his return in Brisbane, having not played since losing in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open.
Two-time winner Naomi Osaka will be back as she returns to the tour after giving birth.
Osaka, who hasn’t played since September 2022, is also making her comeback in Brisbane along with Nadal.
Former champion Caroline Wozniacki will be playing after she came out of retirement in the summer.
Angelique Kerber has also given birth and will be back in Australia.
The leading names to look out for in the men’s draw will likely be Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev.
Sabalenka, Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula look set to be the top contenders in the women’s draw.
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