MELBOURNE, Australia — Prepare for the excitement of the Australian Open with an essential guide covering all you need to know about the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year. Here, you’ll find details on how to watch the matches, betting odds, the schedule of events, and information about the reigning champions.
When does the Australian Open draw take place, and when will matches commence? The official draw to determine the brackets for both the men’s and women’s singles competitions will occur on Thursday in Australia, which corresponds to Wednesday evening Eastern Standard Time (EST). As Melbourne is 14 hours ahead of New York, the tournament’s main draw will kick off on Sunday morning in Australia, equating to Saturday night in the U.S. Typically, matches are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. local time (7 p.m. EST), with night sessions beginning at 7 p.m. local time (3 a.m. EST).
For viewers in the United States, the Australian Open will be broadcast on ESPN and the Tennis Channel. Availability and broadcasting options may vary in other parts of the world.
In terms of betting, Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, the current champions, have been named the frontrunners for the Australian Open by BetMGM Sportsbook. Sabalenka, who has captured the title in each of the last two Australian Opens and also won the U.S. Open in September, is favored with odds at +225. She is closely followed by Coco Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, at +300. Next is Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner who has yet to secure a title at the Australian Open, at +500, with 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina coming in at +800. Sinner is listed at +140, ahead of renowned players such as Carlos Alcaraz at +333 and Novak Djokovic at +450, while Alexander Zverev stands at +900.
The Australian Open takes place on outdoor hard courts at Melbourne Park. In this tournament, the women will compete in best-of-three-set matches, while the men play best-of-five. The event spans 15 days, featuring both day and night sessions, and the three main arenas—Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena—are equipped with retractable roofs.
Aryna Sabalenka will be the top-seeded female player, while Jannik Sinner holds the top seed among males in the upcoming tournament.
The singles competition schedule is as follows:
— Jan. 12-14: First Round (Women and Men)
— Jan. 15-16: Second Round (Women and Men)
— Jan. 17-18: Third Round (Women and Men)
— Jan. 19-20: Fourth Round (Women and Men)
— Jan. 21-22: Quarterfinals (Women and Men)
— Jan. 23: Women’s Semifinals
— Jan. 24: Men’s Semifinals
— Jan. 25: Women’s Final
— Jan. 26: Men’s Final
Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her title at Melbourne Park in 2024, defeating Zheng Qinwen with a score of 6-3, 6-2. On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner made headlines by ousting 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and then overcoming Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling final, winning 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
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If you’re looking to brush up on your tennis knowledge before the Australian Open, consider the following updates:
— Novak Djokovic has discussed the lingering effects of his deportation experience when traveling to Australia.
— Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner had a noteworthy year in 2024.
— Iga Swiatek accepted a temporary doping suspension last season.
— Coco Gauff is riding high after winning her last major tournament.
— Jenson Brooksby shared insights about being autistic ahead of his return to a Grand Slam after two years.
— Aryna Sabalenka added a U.S. Open title to her impressive collection of two Melbourne Park victories.
— Rafael Nadal has stepped away from the game, joining Roger Federer in retirement.
For the 2025 Australian Open, total prize money will reach a record-high of 96.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $60 million). The singles champions will receive 3.5 million Australian dollars (around $2.15 million), an increase from the previous total of 3.15 million dollars (about $1.95 million) last year, although still below the pre-pandemic peak of 4.12 million Australian dollars ($2.55 million) in 2020.
Noteworthy statistics from Melbourne Park include:
3 — Aryna Sabalenka aims for her third consecutive women’s singles championship, a feat last achieved by Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.
24 — Novak Djokovic is tied with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles in history, and another victory would set him apart as the sole record-holder.
