Grand Slam Down Under
Who will stop Novak Djokovic in Australia?
Novak Djokovic is the big favorite at the Australian Open. photo
© Aaron Favila/AP/dpa
The first highlight of the tennis year is coming up: the Australian Open. The favorites are no different from those in 2023. However, some things are different.
From a German perspective, the tennis year started promisingly with the triumph at the United Cup. Now stand with them Australian Open is the first highlight of the season.
The German Press Agency gives an overview of the German professionals, the favorites and what else is important.
When does the Australian Open take place?
For the first time, the tournament in Melbourne Park starts on Sunday. The first round lasts three days. This is intended to straighten out the game plan. Above all, the decision means one day more income for the organizers around the busy tournament director Craig Tiley. The women’s final will take place on January 27th and the men’s champion will be determined on January 28th.
Where is the game played?
There are 24 hard courts in Melbourne Park, the big duels are played in the Rod Laver Arena with 14,800 spectators. There are a total of three arenas with sliding roofs that can be closed if it rains.
What chances do the Germans have?
Alexander Zverev is already in top form at the beginning of the year. At the United Cup in Sydney, the Olympic champion won four of his five singles and beat strong opponents such as the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and the Pole Hubert Hurkacz. In 2023, Zverev was already over in the second round in Melbourne, but at that time he was not yet fully fit after his serious foot injury. Jan-Lennard Struff is also seeded in the men’s competition, but he was injured for a long time last year and is still looking for his rhythm.
For women, Angelique Kerber is making her comeback on the big tennis stage. The 35-year-old lost four of her five singles at the United Cup, but has already shown promising signs again. The 2016 Melbourne winner is certainly out of the question for the title. However, Kerber can survive one or two rounds with a bit of luck. Tatjana Maria, Laura Siegemund and Tamara Korpatsch are also safely in the main field.
Who are the top favorites?
For men, there is no way around Novak Djokovic. At no other place in the world has the world number one been as successful as in the Rod Laver Arena, where he won the title for the tenth time last year. In addition to Zverev, the Serb’s challengers include the Italian Jannik Sinner, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and the Russian Danill Medvedev. Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, has to miss the game due to an injury.
In the women’s race, Poland’s Iga Swiatek is the favorite. The world number one won the WTA Finals at the end of last year and won all five singles at the United Cup at the start of the new season. Also hoping for the title are world number two Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, Brisbane winner Jelena Rybakina from Kazakhstan and the American Coco Gauff, who triumphed in Auckland last week.
What else is interesting?
More mothers than ever before are competing in Melbourne. In addition to Kerber, the Japanese Naomi Osaka is also making her comeback after the birth of her child in the summer. The Danish Caroline Wozniacki returned last year, Jelena Switolina from the Ukraine is stronger than ever since the birth of her daughter. Childcare in Melbourne Park will have its hands full.
How much is the prize money?
There is more money to be made at the Australian Open than ever before. 86.5 million Australian dollars (around 53 million euros) will be distributed as prize money. The men’s and women’s champions receive 3.15 million Australian dollars (1.92 million euros) for winning the title. Players who are eliminated early also receive more money. Anyone who loses in the first round will still collect around 120,000 Australian dollars (around 73,000 euros).
Where can I watch the Australian Open on TV?
The games will be broadcast on Eurosport. The station is again reporting from its studio in Munich-Unterföhring and is once again relying on prominent experts. Boris Becker will also comment and analyze the games from Germany, although his protégé Holger Rune from Denmark is active in Melbourne. Barbara Rittner will provide professional support for the women’s meetings. In total, Eurosport shows more than 260 hours of live tennis on the linear Eurosport channels. You can watch all games live and on demand on the discovery+ streaming service.