MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — As excitement builds for the 2025 Australian Open, tennis fans are bracing for a thrilling start to the Grand Slam calendar. Here’s your detailed guide to not missing any of the action, betting odds, essential schedule information, defending champions, and much more:
What is the draw schedule? When do the matches start?
The men’s and women’s singles draw will take place on Thursday in Australia, which corresponds to Wednesday evening in the US Eastern Time Zone. Melbourne has a time difference of 14 hours ahead of New York, meaning that while the main matches will kick off Sunday morning in Australia, it will still be Saturday night for those watching from NYC. Matches typically begin at 11 a.m. local time (7 p.m. EST), with night sessions beginning at 7 p.m. local time (3 a.m. EST).
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Australian Open Betting Odds
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the favorites to win the title this year are defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner. Sabalenka, who won two consecutive titles at the Australian Open and who has had the US Open trophy in her cabinet since September, is positioned at +225. Just behind is 2023 US Open winner Coco Gauff at +300. Odds for Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion still seeking her first Australian Open title, stand at +500, while 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is at + 800. On the men’s side, Sinner, celebrating his recent Grand Slam victory in Melbourne, is +140 favorite, with four-time major title winner Carlos Alcaraz at +333 and legend Novak Djokovic at +450, followed by Alexander Zverev at +900.
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Australian Open venue
The Australian Open is played on outdoor hard courts at Melbourne Park. The women play best-of-three sets matches, while the men compete in five sets. The tournament spans 15 days and features dedicated day and night sessions, offering fans a full range of thrills. Of note, the three largest arenas – Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena – are equipped with retractable roofs to protect against unpredictable weather.
Who are the top seeds?
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Aryna Sabalenka is the number one seed on the women’s side, while Jannik Sinner holds the distinguished position of number one seed on the men’s side.
Meet the reigning champions
Aryna Sabalenka achieved a remarkable feat by clinching her second consecutive title in 2024, defeating Zheng Qinwen with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory in the final. On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner triumphed over ten-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals before narrowly prevailing over Daniil Medvedev with a thrilling comeback, winning 3-6, 3-6, 6-4 , 6-4, 6-3 in the final.
Do you think you know the Australian Open?
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Brush up on your tennis knowledge
- Novak Djokovic has expressed lingering ‘trauma’ following his experience of deportation to Australia.
- Defending champion Jannik Sinner has had a tumultuous 2024.
- Iga Swiatek recently accepted a suspension for doping from last season.
- Coco Gauff arrives fresh from a title at the last major women’s tournament of 2024.
- Jenson Brooksby has shared thoughts on his autism ahead of his return to the Grand Slam scene after two years.
- Aryna Sabalenka won a US Open trophy in 2024, adding to her two Melbourne Park titles.
- Rafael Nadal joins his Big Three compatriot, Roger Federer, in retirement.
Price distribution for 2025
This year’s Australian Open boasts a record prize pool of 96.5 million Australian dollars (around $60 million). Each singles champion will walk away with A$3.5 million (about $2.15 million), up from A$3.15 million (about $1.95 million) last year, although that this remains below the pre-pandemic peak of A$4.12 million ($2.55 million) in 2020.
Notable Stats at Melbourne Park
- 3 : Aryna Sabalenka is seeking a historic third consecutive women’s singles title, a feat last achieved by Martina Hingis between 1997 and 1999.
- 24 : The number of Grand Slam singles titles accumulated by Novak Djokovic – tying him with Margaret Court for the most in tennis history. An additional victory will grant him sole possession of this record.
