Two weeks into the new year, it is finally time to kick-start the first Major of the season, as the collective eye of the tennis world turns to Melbourne for this year’s edition of the Australian Open.
Coined the “Happy Slam”, partly because of its status as the official starting point of the tennis season, this year’s event once again promises to be one for the ages. Here is your complete guide on how to keep up with the action.
Venue and Surface
The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park on outdoor blue hard courts. However, organisers provide retractable roofs to ensure uninterrupted play during poor weather. The main show court, Rod Laver Arena, named after one of tennis’s greatest legends, holds nearly 15,000 spectators, while several other courts support the event.
Although officials have not released the official court speed data in recent years, players usually experience slicker, lower-bounce conditions here. As a result, the courts favour flatter groundstrokes and aggressive tennis.
Tournament Draw and Format
Like every Slam, the Australian Open main draw features 128 players. This field includes 32 seeds, 16 qualifiers, and 8 wildcards selected by tournament organisers.
The complete women’s and men’s draws are now available to the public. Moreover, readers can also find an in-depth breakdown and analysis of the men’s draw.
Prize Money and Ranking Points
The tournament boasts an event record prize pool of AUD $111.5 million ($74.53 million). Notably, this figure represents a rise of more than 15% from the previous edition. The event splits the total equally between the men’s and women’s competitions, with each singles champion receiving AUD $4.15 million ($2.77 million).
As with every Slam, the winner earns 2,000 ATP or WTA ranking points.
Where to Watch
Fans worldwide can follow the first Major of the season on these broadcasters:
- United States: Tennis Channel, ESPN
- Canada: TSN, RDS
- Australia: 9Now, Stan Sports
In Europe, coverage will appear on:
- United Kingdom: TNT Sports
- Italy: Eurosport
- France: Eurosport
- Germany: Eurosport
- Spain: Eurosport
Complete global broadcasting details are also available on the tournament website.
And so, after a long wait, best-of-five-set tennis is finally back as another edition of the Australian Open kicks off what is set to be yet another exciting and opportunity-filled tennis calendar, one that LWOT will cover every step of the way.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports