FILE – Novak Djokovic of Serbia, left, greets Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece as he holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Tsitsipas in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
MELBOURNE, Australia — Get ready for the Australian Open before play begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday morning with a guide that tells you things 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 2024 ON TV
—In the U.S.: ESPN
—In the Philippines, beIN Sports
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
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.
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.
WHAT TO READ HEADING INTO AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Djokovic to Sinner: Five men to watch at Australian Open 2024
Swiatek to Raducanu: Five women to watch at Australian Open 2024
Australian Open 2024 prize money: how much do winners get?
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.
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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.” — Coco Gauff.