Novak Djokovic will close out the night session in Melbourne, because if you were worried about surprises, you were not paying attention.
The opening days of the Australian Open stack up like a well ordered draw sheet: Iga Swiatek starts the night session, big names take turns under the lights and Djokovic is scheduled as the final act on Monday.
Djokovic, Matchups And Milestones
Novak Djokovic arrives in Melbourne as a record 10-time Australian Open champion and is set for his 21st main-draw appearance at the season’s first major, a reminder that history has favorite seats in Rod Laver Arena.
He will face Spaniard Pedro Martinez in the final match of the evening session, a first-time Lexus ATP Head2Head with the No. 71 player in the rankings, and Djokovic has a clear personal target: the 100th main-draw match win in Melbourne.
Jannik Sinner, who arrives as the two-time defending champion in Melbourne, will not begin his title defence until Tuesday and thus cannot be accused of stealing anyone’s spotlight on Day 2.
The second-seeded Italian, who boasts a 22-4 tournament record in Melbourne, will open against French lefty Hugo Gaston, setting up a classic contrast of aggression and guile in the opening round.
Home hopes rest with Alex de Minaur, who will light up Rod Laver Arena against Mackenzie McDonald, while Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud are penciled in at Margaret Court Arena for their opening matches.
“a cloud will follow”
Novak Djokovic
When Is It, And How To Watch
The tournament runs through the last two weeks of January with Round 1 beginning Jan. 17 and the men’s final scheduled for Feb. 1, and U.S. viewers should prepare for odd hours as matches air live from Melbourne.
Broadcast rights in the United States are with ESPN and ESPN2, and streaming is available through ESPN Unlimited, ESPN+ and partners such as Fubo, so viewers have multiple ways to catch the sessions that suit their sleep schedules.
Carlos Alcaraz arrives as the No. 1 seed attempting to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, and he returns to a major after a notable split with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Players To Watch In The Opening Week
Aryna Sabalenka is the favorite in the women’s draw as the No. 1 seed, while Madison Keys steps in as the defending champion from last year and is listed as the No. 9 seed who will try to replicate that upset run.
Other storylines include whether Alcaraz can assert himself in a half of the draw that also features Djokovic, how young challengers like Ben Shelton will handle the big stage and whether veterans can shift momentum early in the fortnight.
The schedule favors late night viewing windows in North America, with marquee matches often running after midnight eastern time, so set your DVRs, warn your sleep-deprived friends and pick a coffee sponsor for the week.
Expect the first several days to answer simple questions: who survives the early tests, who brings fatigue and who arrives with a momentum swing from the lead-up events in Brisbane and elsewhere.
For those making plans around the Australian Open, monitor the nightly order of play because big names like Djokovic, Sinner and Swiatek will often be slotted into later sessions, changing the viewing timetable with little notice.
Pick a match or two to follow closely and let the rest be background drama; the opening week in Melbourne traditionally prunes the draw and delivers the headlines that matter for the second week of the tournament.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
