2025 Australian Open: Everything You Need to Know

As the countdown to the Australian Open begins, prepare yourself with a comprehensive guide that covers all the essential information about the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year. Here, you’ll find details on how to tune in, the tournament’s betting odds, the schedule of events, and insights on the defending champions.

When is the Australian Open draw? When do matches start?
The tournament’s draw to establish the brackets for both the women’s and men’s singles competitions took place on Thursday in Australia (Wednesday night in the Eastern Standard Time zone). The time difference between Melbourne and the East Coast of the U.S. is 14 hours, which means the main draw will kick off early Sunday morning in Australia, corresponding to Saturday night in New York. Typically, matches are scheduled to commence at 11 a.m. local time (which is 7 p.m. EST the previous day), while night sessions begin at 7 p.m. local time (3 a.m. EST).

How to watch the Australian Open on TV
For viewers in the U.S., ESPN and Tennis Channel will broadcast the matches. Coverage details for other countries are also available through various platforms.

What are the betting odds for the Australian Open?
Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner are favored to win as defending champions according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Sabalenka, who clinched both the last two Australian Open titles and won the U.S. Open in September, is positioned at +240. Close behind are 2023 U.S. Open victor Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, who holds five Grand Slam titles but yet to win in Australia, both listed at +400, along with 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina at +900. Sinner, who achieved his first Grand Slam victory at Melbourne Park last year, has odds of +130, while Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time major champion, stands at +350, and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic follows at +500. Alexander Zverev sees longer odds at +1000 as the potential quarterfinal clash between Alcaraz and Djokovic affects their betting lines.

Where is the Australian Open played?
The tournament is hosted on outdoor hard courts at Melbourne Park. Matches for women are conducted in a best-of-three sets format, while men compete in best-of-five sets. The event spans 15 days, with separate sessions for day and night matches. The three main courts—Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena—are equipped with retractable roofs.

Who will be the top seeds at the Australian Open?
Aryna Sabalenka claims the top seed among women, while Jannik Sinner leads the men’s seeding.

What is the Australian Open singles schedule?
– January 12-14: First Round (Women and Men)
– January 15-16: Second Round (Women and Men)
– January 17-18: Third Round (Women and Men)
– January 19-20: Fourth Round (Women and Men)
– January 21-22: Quarterfinals (Women and Men)
– January 23: Women’s Semifinals
– January 24: Men’s Semifinals
– January 25: Women’s Final
– January 26: Men’s Final

Who are the defending champions of the Australian Open?
Aryna Sabalenka secured her second consecutive title in 2024 by defeating Zheng Qinwen with a score of 6-3, 6-2 in the final. On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner made headlines by ousting 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semis and then overcame Daniil Medvedev to win the final with scores of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

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What background on tennis should I know before the Australian Open?
Get up to speed: The offseason is far from a break for tennis players. Notably, Novak Djokovic has mentioned the lingering effects of his deportation when visiting Australia. Defending champion Jannik Sinner had a remarkable year in 2024, while Iga Swiatek accepted a doping suspension last season. Furthermore, Coco Gauff recently achieved success at a significant tournament, and Aryna Sabalenka added the U.S. Open trophy to her previous titles. Rafael Nadal has officially joined Roger Federer in retirement, marking a significant shift in the sport.

What about the prize money at the 2025 Australian Open?
The total prize pool for the Australian Open is set to reach a record-breaking 96.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $60 million). Each singles champion will take home 3.5 million Australian dollars (around $2.15 million), an increase from last year’s 3.15 million Australian dollars. However, this still remains below the pre-pandemic high of 4.12 million Australian dollars ($2.55 million) in 2020.

Key stats to watch at Melbourne Park:
– 3: Aryna Sabalenka aims to claim her third consecutive women’s singles title at Melbourne Park, a feat last achieved by Martina Hingis between 1997 and 1999.
– 24: Novak Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, tying with Margaret Court for the all-time record. Securing just one more title will grant him sole possession of this milestone.