by Emma Raducanu will return to a major tournament against American Shelby Rogers at the Australian Open.
Rogers was one of the players Raducanu beat on her way to the US Open title in 2021.
The Briton is playing his first major tournament in a year after surgery on both wrists and one ankle.
All British women avoided seeds in the first round, with Katie Boulter drawing China Yuan Yue and Jodie Burrage in German Tamara Korpatsch.
There was no such luck for Andy Murraywas the only British player to draw a seed at the Australian Open, with the five-time former champion taking on the No. 30 Thomas Martin Etcheverry.
If the Scot reaches the third round, he would hope to face top seed Novak Djokovic, who will open against a qualifier.
Cameron Norriethe only seed in Britain at 19, who faces Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas, with Jack Draper meet the American Marcos Giron and Dan Evans playing Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
There are also great matches in the women’s final: Iga Swiatek will face former champion Sofia Kenin, and the winner will play another former winner in the final Angelique Kerber or former player Danielle Collins.
Naomi Osaka, who like Kerber is returning after having a baby, is returning to her grand-slam championships against 16th seed Caroline Garcia.
When does the Australian Open start?
The competition starts on Sunday, January 14. It is the first Sunday start in the history of the competition.
“We have listened to player and fan feedback and are excited to provide a solution to minimize late finishes while continuing to provide a fair and balanced schedule on the stadium courts,” said director Australian Open Craig Tiley.
“The extra day will make this happen, which will benefit scheduling for both fans and players. The first round will now be played over three days instead of two, giving fans an extra day of incredible tennis, entertainment, food and family fun.”
What is the order of play on Sunday?
(always GMT)
Game Rod Laver Arena
From 1am: (4) Jannik Sinner (Ita) v Botic van de Zandschulp (Ned), (8) Maria Sakkari (Gre) v Nao Hibino (Jpn)
From 8am: (1) Novak Djokovic (Ser) v Dino Prizmic (Cro), Ella Seidel (Ger) v (2) Aryna Sabalenka (Blr)
Margaret Court Arena
From 1am: Mai Hontama (Jpn) v (9) Barbora Krejcikova (Cze), Thiago Seyboth Wild (Bra) v (5) Andrey Rublev (Rus), (20)
From 8am: Magda Linette (Pol) v Caroline Wozniacki (Den), (17) Frances Tiafoe (USA) v Borna Coric (Cro)
John Cain Arena
From 12am: (32) Leylah Annie Fernandez (Can) v Sara Bejlek (Cze), Dane Sweeny (Aus) v (22) Francisco Cerundolo (Arg)
From 7am: (12) Taylor Harry Fritz (USA) v Facundo Diaz Acosta (Arg)
1573 Arena
From 12am: (28) Lesia Tsurenko (Ukr) v Lucia Bronzetti (Ita), Fabian Marozsan (Hun) v Marin Cilic (Cro)
From 7am: Jeffrey John Wolf (USA) v (26) Sebastian Baez (Arg)
Kia Arena
From 12am: Matteo Arnaldi (Ita) v Adam Walton (Aus), Alize Cornet (Fra) v Maria Timofeeva (Rus)
From 7am: (13) Laura Samsonova (Cze) v Amanda Anisimova (USA), Daniel Elahi Galan (Col) v Jason Kubler (Aus)
Court 3
From 12am: Alexander Shevchenko (Rus) v Jaume Munar (Spa), Alycia Parks (USA) v Daria Snigur (Ukraine)
From 7am: Christopher O’Connell (Aus) v Christian Garin (Chi)
Court 6
From 12am: Kamilla Rakhimova (Rus) v Emina Bektas (USA), Pavel Kotov (Rus) v Arthur Rinderknech (Fra)
From 7am: Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spa) v Alina Korneeva (Rus)
Court 7
From 2am: Zhuoxuan Bai (Chi) v Elina Avanesyan (Rus), Diane Parry (Fra) v (30) Xin Yu Wang (Chn)
From 9am: Quentin Halys (France) v Lloyd George Harris (Russia)
Court 13
From 2am: Tamara Korpatsch (Ger) v Jodie Anna Burrage (Gbr), Tomas Machac (Cze) v Shintaro Mochizuki (Jpn)
From 9am: Caroline Dolehide (USA) v Leolia Jeanjean (France)
Court 17
From 3am: Ana Bogdan (Rom) v Brenda Fruhvirtova (Cze), Jesper De Jong (Ned) v Pedro Cachin (Arg)
When are the Australian Open finals?
The women’s final is on Saturday, January 27. The men’s final takes place the following day: 28 January.
How to watch the Australian Open on TV in the UK
In the UK, Eurosport has the broadcast rights to live action from Melbourne and will be showing 260 hours of tennis. To watch discovery+, an Entertainment & Sports pass is £6.99/month or £59.99 per year.
This year, Nick Kyrgios will be part of Eurosport’s English commentary team, and will be one of the highlights of the live camera stream from the commentary booth. Kyrgios will be joined in Australia by presenters John McEnroe, Barbara Schett and Laura Robson, and from a studio in London will be new host Rachel Stringer.
How to watch the Australian Open on TV in the US
ESPN has the broadcast rights to show the tournament.
Australian Open men’s draw
There are some exciting openers in the men’s draw, with Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz meeting French veteran Richard Gasquet and Stefanos Tsitsipas squaring off against Matteo Berrettini.
Here’s the full draw:
Australian Open women’s draw
Last year’s champion Aryna Sabalenka begins her campaign against a qualifier, while Elena Rybakina takes on former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova.
Here’s the full draw:
What is the Australian Open prize money?
Total prize money at this year’s Australian Open is a 13 per cent increase on 2023 – £46.3 million will be shared by the field with the winners taking home £1.68 million each.
“We have increased prize money for every round at the Australian Open with the big increases in qualifying and in the opening rounds of singles and doubles,” Tiley said. “We want to ensure that Australia remains the key to the world tennis season and that the players and their teams have everything they need to help them perform at their best and continue to enjoy the happy slam. “
Which British players will be involved?
Britain’s top four men will appear at the Australian Open: Cameron Norrie (world No. 19), Daniel Evans (No. 40), Andy Murray (No. 44) and Jack Draper (No. 62).
Among the women, Great Britain will be represented by Katie Boulter (world No. 57), Jodie Burrage (No. 102) and Raducanu (who qualified based on her defense ranking).
Will Emma Raducanu play at the Australian Open?
Raducanu will play at the Australian Open after the withdrawals of Lauren Davis, Karolina Muchova, Petra Kvitova, Irina-Camelia Begu and Caty McNally opened up a place in the main draw and meant she avoided going through qualifying.
Who are the defending champions?
Last year, Novak Djokovic claimed the men’s singles title for a record-breaking 10th time after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Aryna Sabalenka claimed her first grand slam singles title in the women’s draw when she defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets.
Latest odds
To win the men’s title
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Novak Djokovic 11/10
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Carlos Alcaraz 10/3
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Jannik sinner 7/1
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Daniel Medvedev 11/1
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Alexander Zverev 25/1
To win the women’s title
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Iga Swiatek 9/4
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Aryna Sabalenka 5/1
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Elena Rybakina 5/1
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Coco Gauff 7/1
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Naomi Osaka 27/1
