Australian Open begins Jan. 12 in Melbourne, and the draws for the men’s and women’s singles are intriguing — and have thrown up some blockbuster first-round matches. The Athletic’s tennis writers, Matthew Futterman and Charlie Eccleshare,

Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor during the Davis Cup final tennis match between Netherlands and Italy at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. Credit: AP/Manu Fernandez

Novak Djokovic is due to take on a collosal path in this year's Australian Open with Spanish wiz Carlos Alcaraz set to be waiting for him in the quarter-finals, but with new coach and three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray now in his corner, we can expect a sizzling few weeks ahead.

Can Coco Gauff or Carlos Alcaraz win their first Australian Open title? Will Novak Djokovic extend his major record? All you need to know.

Novak Djokovic said he still feels “a bit of trauma” when he travels to Australia, stemming from his deportation in 2022 because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. “The last couple of times that I landed in Australia,

Seven former Australian Open champions are competing across both singles draws in 2025. That includes reigning champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, though a few ex-winners will perhaps hope returning to a happy hunting ground can spark some much-needed magic.