by Emma Raducanu will return in a big tournament against American Shelby Rogers at the Australian Open.
Rogers was one of the players Raducanu beat on her way to the US Open title in 2021.
The Briton is playing her first major tournament in a year after undergoing surgery on both wrists and an ankle.
All the British women avoided seeding in the first round, with Katie Boulter drawing Yuan Yue of China and Jodie Burrage facing the German Tamara Korpatsch.
There was no such luck Andy Murraywho was the only British player to earn a berth at the Australian Open, and the five-time former finalist faced 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
If the Scot reaches the third round, he would expect to find himself against top seed Novak Djokovic, who will open against a qualifier.
Cameron Norriethe only British favorite at 19 years old, faces the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas, with Jack Draper meet the American Marcos Girón and Daniel Evans playing the Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
There are also eye-catching matchups in the women’s draw: world number one Iga Swiatek will face former champion Sofia Kenin, and the winner will face another previous winner, the returnee Angelique Kerber, or former finalist Danielle Collins.
Naomi Osaka, who like Kerber is making a comeback after having a baby, returns to the Grand Slam tournament against No. 16 seed Caroline Garcia.
When does the Australian Open start?
The tournament begins on Sunday, January 14. It is the first Sunday start in the history of the tournament.
“We have listened to feedback from players and fans and are excited to offer a solution to minimize late finishes while continuing to offer a fair and equitable schedule on stadium courts,” said the Australian Open tournament director. , Craig Tiley.
“The additional day will accomplish this, benefiting programming for both fans and players. The first round will now be played over three days instead of two, which will also give fans an extra day of incredible tennis, entertainment, food and family fun.”
What is the order of play on Sunday?
(All times GMT)
Rod Laver Stadium
Starting at 1:00 a.m.: (4) Jannik Sinner (Ita) against Botic van de Zandschulp (Ned), (8) Maria Sakkari (Gre) against Nao Hibino (Jpn)
Starting at 8:00 a.m.: (1) Novak Djokovic (Ser) vs. Dino Prizmic (Cro), Ella Seidel (Germany) vs. (2) Aryna Sabalenka (Blr)
Margaret Court Stadium
Starting at 1:00 a.m.: Mai Hontama (Japan) against (9) Barbora Krejcikova (Czech), Thiago Seyboth Wild (Bra) against (5) Andrey Rublev (Russia), (20)
Starting at 8:00 a.m.: Magda Linette (Pol) against Caroline Wozniacki (Den), (17) Frances Tiafoe (USA) against Borna Coric (Cro)
John Cain Arena
From 12:00 p.m.: (32) Leylah Annie Fernández (Can) against Sara Bejlek (Czech), Dane Sweeny (Aus) against (22) Francisco Cerundolo (Arg)
Starting at 7:00 a.m.: (12) Taylor Harry Fritz (USA) v Facundo Díaz Acosta (Arg)
1573 Sand
From 12:00 p.m.: (28) Lesia Tsurenko (Ukr) against Lucia Bronzetti (Ita), Fabian Marozsan (Hun) against Marin Cilic (Cro)
Starting at 7:00 a.m.: Jeffrey John Wolf (USA) v (26) Sebastián Báez (Arg)
Kia Arena
From 12:00 p.m.: Matteo Arnaldi (Ita) against Adam Walton (Australia), Alize Cornet (Fra) against Maria Timofeeva (Russia)
Starting at 7:00 a.m.: (13) Laura Samsonova (Czech) vs. Amanda Anisimova (USA), Daniel Elahi Galan (Col) vs. Jason Kubler (Australia)
Court 3
From 12:00 p.m.: Alexander Shevchenko (Russia) vs. Jaume Munar (Spa), Alycia Parks (USA) vs. Daria Snigur (UK)
Starting at 7:00 a.m.: Christopher O’Connell (Aus) vs. Christian Garin (Chi)
Court 6
From 12:00 p.m.: Kamilla Rakhimova (Rus) against Emina Bektas (USA), Pavel Kotov (Rus) against Arthur Rinderknech (Fra)
Starting at 7:00 a.m.: Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spa) against Alina Korneeva (Russia)
Court 7
Starting at 2:00 a.m.: Zhuoxuan Bai (Chi) vs. Elina Avanesyan (Rus), Diane Parry (Fra) vs. (30) Xin Yu Wang (Chn)
Starting at 9:00 a.m.: Quentin Halys (Fra) vs. Lloyd George Harris (Rsa)
Court 13
Starting at 2:00 a.m.: Tamara Korpatsch (Germany) against Jodie Anna Burrage (Great Britain), Tomas Machac (Czech) against Shintaro Mochizuki (Japan)
Starting at 9:00 a.m.: Caroline Dolehide (USA) vs. Leolia Jeanjean (Fra)
Court 17
From 3:00 a.m.: Ana Bogdan (Rom) against Brenda Fruhvirtova (Czech), Jesper De Jong (Ned) against Pedro Cachin (Arg)
When do the Australian Open finals take place?
The women’s final is on Saturday, January 27. The men’s final is the next day: January 28.
How to watch the Australian Open on TV in the UK
In the UK, Eurosport has the rights to broadcast the action live from Melbourne and will broadcast 260 hours of tennis. To watch on Discovery+, a sports and entertainment pass costs £6.99/month or £59.99/year.
This year, Nick Kyrgios will be part of Eurosport’s English commentary team and will be one of the highlights of a direct camera feed from the commentary booth. Kyrgios will be joined in Australia by presenters John McEnroe, Barbara Schett and Laura Robson, and from a London studio by new presenter Rachel Stringer.
How to watch the Australian Open on TV in the US
ESPN has the broadcast rights to show the tournament.
Australian Open men’s draw
There are some tantalizing openers in the men’s draw, with Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz taking on French veteran Richard Gasquet and Stefanos Tsitsipas taking on Matteo Berrettini.
Here is the full giveaway:
Australian Open women’s draw
Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s champion, begins her campaign against a qualifier, while Elena Rybakina takes on former world number one Karolina Pliskova.
Here is the full giveaway:
What is the prize money for the Australian Open?
This year’s Australian Open total prize money marks a record 13 per cent increase on 2023, with the field sharing £46.3 million and the winners taking home £1.68 million.
“We have increased the prize money in each round of the Australian Open, with significant increases in qualifying and in the early rounds of singles and doubles,” Tiley said. “We want to ensure that Australia remains the launch pad for the world tennis season and that players and their teams have everything they need to help them perform at their best and continue to enjoy the happy Slam.”
Which British players will participate?
The top four British men will be at the Australian Open: Cameron Norrie (world number 19), Daniel Evans (number 40), Andy Murray (number 44) and Jack Draper (number 62).
Among the women, Great Britain will be represented by Katie Boulter (world number 57), Jodie Burrage (number 102) and Raducanu (who qualified based on her protected ranking).
Will Emma Raducanu play at the Australian Open?
Raducanu will play the Australian Open after the withdrawals of Lauren Davis, Karolina Muchova, Petra Kvitova, Irina-Camelia Begu and Caty McNally opened up a place for her in the main draw and allowed her to avoid having to go through qualifying.
Who are the defending champions?
Last year, Novak Djokovic claimed the men’s singles title for a record 10th time after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Aryna Sabalenka captured her first Grand Slam singles title in the women’s draw when she defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets.
Latest odds
To win the men’s title
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Novak Djokovic 11/10
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Carlos Alcaraz 10/3
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Sinner Jannik 7/1
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Daniil Medvedev 11/1
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Alexander Zverev 25/1
To win the women’s title
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Iga Swiatek 9/4
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Aryna Sabalenka 5/1
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Elena Rybakina 5/1
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Coco Gauff 7/1
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Naomi Osaka 1/27
