Get ready for the Australian Open before play begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday morning (Saturday night ET) with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about how to watch the year’s first Grand Slam tennis tournament, what the schedule is, what the betting odds are, who the defending champions are and more:
Quick Read
Key points about the upcoming Australian Open:
- Broadcast Information:
- U.S. Viewers: The Australian Open will be broadcast on ESPN.
- International Broadcasts: Details for other countries are listed separately.
- Schedule:
- The tournament starts on Sunday in Australia (Saturday night ET), making it a 15-day event.
- The singles schedule includes rounds from the first through to the finals, spanning from January 15th to January 28th.
- Betting Favorites:
- Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic is the favorite, followed by Carlos Alcaraz.
- Women’s Singles: Iga Swiatek leads, with Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina also favored. Naomi Osaka returns with notable odds.
- Day 1 Highlights:
- Djokovic and Sabalenka play against qualifiers in the Rod Laver Arena.
- Other notable matches include Caroline Wozniacki, Frances Tiafoe, and Leylah Fernandez.
- Tournament Coverage:
- Various articles and previews are available to get caught up on tournament details, player comebacks, and key contenders.
- Tennis Quiz:
- The AP has created an Australian Open quiz for tennis fans.
- Notable Stats:
- Djokovic enters with a 28-match winning streak at the Australian Open.
- Swiatek has a 16-match overall winning streak.
- Key Quote:
- Coco Gauff discusses her
approach to the game, focusing on enjoying the process and playing freely, which has helped her trust herself more on the court.
- Significant Withdrawals:
- Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the tournament raises questions about his future in tennis.
- Player Spotlights:
- Naomi Osaka’s return to Grand Slam tennis after becoming a mother is a highlight.
- The spotlight is also on Coco Gauff, with a focus on her playing without pressure.
- The draws for both men’s and women’s singles offer insights into potential match-ups.
These points offer a comprehensive guide to what viewers and tennis fans can expect from the Australian Open, highlighting key players, matches, and storylines.
The Associated Press has the story:
Australian Open 2024: How to watch on TV, betting odds & upcoming matches
Newslooks- MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)
Get ready for the Australian Open before play begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday morning (Saturday night ET) with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about how to watch the year’s first Grand Slam tennis tournament, what the schedule is, what the betting odds are, who the defending champions are and more:
HOW TO WATCH THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN ON TV
—In the U.S.: ESPN
—Other countries are listed here.
THE SINGLES SCHEDULE
Melbourne’s time zone is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast of the United States, so when play begins at 11 a.m. local time on Sunday in Australia, it’ll be 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. This is the first time the tournament begins on a Sunday, instead of a Monday, turning it into a 15-day event.
Here is the singles schedule in Australia:
—Sunday-Monday-Tuesday: First Round (Women and Men)
—Wednesday-Thursday: Second Round (Women and Men)
—Friday-Saturday: Third Round (Women and Men)
—Jan. 21-22: Fourth Round (Women and Men)
—Jan. 23-24: Quarterfinals (Women and Men)
—Jan. 25: Women’s Semifinals
—Jan. 26: Men’s Semifinals
—Jan. 27: Women’s Final
—Jan. 28: Men’s Final
BETTING FAVORITES
Novak Djokovic is a plus-100 pick to win the men’s title, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, ahead of No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz at plus-350. Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final last September to clinch his 24th Grand Slam singles title. Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final last year to end the Serbian star’s chances of a calendar-year Grand Slam. Iga Swiatek is the top women’s choice at plus-220. She is followed by Aryna Sabalenka at plus-430, 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff at plus-470 and Elena Rybakina, last year’s Australian Open runner-up, at plus-500. A noteworthy line: Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka is listed at plus-3,600 as she returns to Grand Slam action following the birth of her daughter, Shai, last July.WHO IS PLAYING ON DAY 1?
Djokovic and Sabalenka both open their title defenses by facing an 18-year-old qualifier in Rod Laver Arena during the tournament’s first night session. Djokovic is up first on Sunday at 7 p.m. local time (3 a.m. ET), against Dino Prizmic of Croatia, followed by Sabalenka against Ella Seidel of Germany. Also in action at night, starting at the same as time Djokovic, is 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki against 2023 semifinalist Magda Linette at Margaret Court Arena, with 2022 U.S. Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe against Borna Coric afterward. Play on some courts begins as early as 11 a.m. local time Sunday (7 p.m. ET Saturday), including 2021 U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez taking on 17-year-old Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek to start things off in John Cain Arena. Taylor Fritz, the highest-ranked American man, is scheduled to play Facundo Diaz Acosta in the third match on that court, not before 4 p.m. local time (midnight ET). Rod Laver Arena’s day session starts at noon local time (8 p.m. ET Saturday), with No. 4 seed Jannik Sinner against Botic van de Zandschulp.
GET CAUGHT UP
What to read heading into the Australian Open:
— Basic facts and figures about the tournament
— Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open withdrawal leaves plenty of questions about his future
— Now a mom, Naomi Osaka returns to tennis
— The pressure is off Coco Gauff
— A look at the draw in Melbourne
A TENNIS QUIZ
Try your hand at the AP’s Australian Open quiz.
STATS TO KNOW
28 — Djokovic’s Australian Open winning streak heading into Sunday.
16 — Swiatek’s overall winning streak, dating to the end of last season.
WORDS TO KNOW
“I realized that losing isn’t all that bad, and that I should just focus on the battle and the process and enjoy it. I found myself being able to play freer and trust myself more.” — Gauff.
