When does the 2024 Australian Open start? How can I view it? And when are the biggest competitions? All your Grand Slam questions answered
- The Australian Open starts on Sunday, January 14
- Novak Djokovic aims to defend his title again
- Daily Mail Australia has everything you need to know
The biggest event on the Australian tennis calendar, the Australian Open, is just a few sleeps away, with fans excited to see the big stars in action for the first time in 2024.
The opening major of the year promises to be a blockbuster with two weeks full of exciting competitions and great stories.
Novak Djokovic returns to defend his title and aim for his 25th grand slam victory, moving further ahead of Rafael Nadal’s total of 22.
Djokovic swept aside his rivals on his way to the Australian Open title No. 10 last year, although there are hopes he will be better challenged this time.
Daily Mail Australia explains everything you need to know about the 2024 Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic will defend his Australian Open title at this year’s tournament from Sunday
When is it?
For the first time ever, the Australian Open will last 15 days instead of 14, a decision made in the hope of reducing last year’s early morning finish.
It means the game will start on Sunday, January 14 at 11am AEST.
All the action takes place at Melbourne Park – just steps from the Melbourne Cricket Ground and AAMI Park.
There will be seven rounds until the 2024 final, which takes place on Sunday, January 28.
The first grand slam of the year will take place at Melbourne Park in Victoria
How to watch
Australian viewers can watch the tournament on free-to-air television, with Channel 9 broadcasting all coverage in Melbourne.
Tennis fans in the US can watch the action on ESPN, while UK viewers can catch the likes of Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray on Eurosport.
Complete schedule
- Sunday January 14: Men’s and women’s singles first round
- Monday January 15: Men’s and women’s singles first round
- Tuesday January 16: Men’s and women’s singles first round
- Wednesday January 17: Men’s and women’s singles second round
- Thursday January 18: Men’s and women’s singles second round
- Friday January 19: Men’s and women’s third round singles
- Saturday January 20: Men’s and women’s third round singles
- Sunday January 21: Women’s and men’s singles, fourth round
- Monday January 22: Women’s and men’s singles, fourth round
- Tuesday January 23: Men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals
- Wednesday January 24: Men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals
- Thursday January 25: Women’s singles semi-final
- Friday January 26: Men’s singles semi-final
- Saturday January 27: Women’s singles final, men’s doubles final
- Sunday January 28: Men’s singles final, women’s doubles final
Will Rafael Nadal play?
Rafael Nadal was all set to make an emphatic return to Melbourne Park this month after spending most of 2023 on the sidelines, but his comeback was cruelly thwarted in Brisbane last week.
Nadal, 37, suffered ‘a small problem’ during his defeat to Australian Jordan Thompson and the results of a scan in Melbourne ruled him out of the tournament.
The Spanish legend has returned home and hopes to be back on the pitch soon.
Rafael Nadal will not compete this month after injuring himself in Brisbane
Will Nick Kyrgios play?
Like Nadal, Kyrgios watched from afar last year due to various problems with his knee and wrist.
Tournament director Craig Tiley had hoped Kyrgios would return for his home tournament, but the 28-year-old ended those expectations last month and revealed he is not yet ready to return to the field.
It remains to be seen when Kyrgios will next emerge with a racket in hand, but he will be holding the microphone this month after joining Eurosport’s expert team.
Prize money
Total prize money at this year’s Australian Open is AU$86.5 million, representing a 13.5 percent increase from 2023.
Tiley said they had increased the prize money for each round “with the big increases in qualifying and the early rounds of singles and doubles.”