With close to two billion enthusiasts worldwide, tennis stands as a sports powerhouse. Recent surveys show it holds fourth place in global followership, just behind soccer, cricket, and field hockey. However, this is hardly a revelation for avid tennis enthusiasts.
Tennis has been climbing the popularity charts for decades, reaching its peak only recently. Moreover, experts believe these might be the most thrilling moments the sport has seen yet. So, if you haven’t tuned in yet, now is the perfect time to join and make some tennis odds for fun.
The new season kicks off with the Australian Open 2024. Read on to learn when the AO 2024 starts, who will play, where you can follow the matches, and more.
What Is the Australian Open?
Before we answer the question: “When is the Australian Open 2024, and who’ll play in it?” let’s make sure we’re on the same page as to what this event is all about.
The Australian Open, often abbreviated as AO, is a tennis tournament organized annually in Melbourne, Australia. The first game took place in 1905 as part of the Australasian Championships.
Today, the Australian Open is the first of four Grand Slam tournaments played every year. It runs for two weeks in January and features men’s and women’s singles and doubles, mixed doubles, and wheelchair matches. The competition is famous for its hard courts, which generate aggressive, fast-paced, and dynamic play that audiences enjoy.
When Is the Australian Open 2024?
In keeping with tradition, this year’s Australian Open will take place at the National Tennis Center in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, from 14–28 January. The tournament will include a few structural changes to ensure the comfort and safety of players and spectators.
- The tournament will start on the opening Sunday for the first time in its 119-year history.
- The bonus day will expand the number of game sessions to 52.
- The first-round matches will last for three instead of the customary two days.
- The central courts’ day sessions will include a minimum of two instead of three matches.
Where Can I Watch the AO 2024?
You can watch this year’s AO in person at Melbourne Park, on TV, or online on YouTube. For live-action fans, tickets may be hard to come by because of their price tag and the tournament’s popularity. However, if you do manage to buy one, you can expect premium entertainment.
Ground Passes cover entry to all AO precinct zones, encompassing outdoor courts and the John Cain Arena. Upgrading to reserved tickets also grants access to areas like Rod Laver or Margaret Court.
Those who decide to follow the games from home can watch them on Tennis, Eurosport, and ESPN channels or stream them on Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Fire TV, and other similar services.
Whatever you opt for, Sportzino, a top-notch sweepstakes sportsbook, lets you maximize your enjoyment. The site will cover all the fixtures, offering exciting betting-like opportunities with competitive free sports odds.
Tennis Players in Australian Open 2024
The Australian Open 2024 will welcome 128 players. You can find the entire players list on the tournament’s official website.
Men’s matches will follow the best-of-five-set format, and women’s the best-of-three set. The whole competition will unfold in a straight knockout format, leading to the final winner.
The women’s final will play out on Saturday, January 27, followed by the men’s showdown the next day, January 28. Honoring tradition, both matches will take place at the Rod Laver Arena.
Who Should I Follow on Australian Open 2024?
The event officials have yet to announce the main draw, but there’s no doubt the new Happy Slam will bring together talented and promising tennis players.
The defending champion and ATP list’s no. 1, Novak Djokovic, is definitely one of the favorites. Nevertheless, the young Carlos Alcaraz is a close second. After losing to the Serb in their last two encounters, the 20-year-old will surely seek revenge in this AO should the two come head-to-head again.
Another Spaniard the audience is excited to see is Rafael Nadal. The Mallorca native’s return to the court at the Brisbane International was nothing short of spectacular following hip surgery this summer. Watching him try to continue this winning streak on Australian soil is bound to be thrilling.
If you check the top bookies tips and odds, you’ll see Poland’s Iga Swiatek is poised as one of the frontrunners in the women’s draw. However, last year’s winner, Aryna Sabalenka, and runner-up, Elena Rybakina, are on her heels. Predicting the winner will be difficult with such fierce competition, but that’s what makes the whole experience fun.
Australian Open Prize Fund
Besides the coveted Norman Brookes Challenge and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cups, tennis players in the Australian Open compete for a generous sum of money. This year’s grand prize totals $AU 86.5 million, a new high in this tournament’s history.
According to the AO director Craig Tiley, it’s more than just the main prize that’s heftier this year. In an effort to adequately compensate all participating players, the entire Australian Open prize fund has surged by an impressive $AU 10 million compared to the AO 2023. You can learn more about the delegation process on the competition’s official site.
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