The year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, is less than a week away. Over 60 of the world’s best tennis players are ready to compete at Melbourne Park, including the controversial No. 1 seed and defending men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked men’s tennis player, was detained for four days after entering Australia on Jan. 5 without a valid COVID-19 vaccine medical exemption. The Serbian also added incorrect information to his travel declaration form, which could be grounds for deportation and criminal charges.
As of Wednesday, Djokovic is still slated to compete for a record 21st Grand Slam title.
Last year’s women’s champion, Naomi Osaka, will defend her Australian Open title as a No. 13 seed. World No. 1 — and Australia’s own — Ash Barty is favored to win the women’s singles title this year.
Key players who won’t be competing in the 2022 Australian Open include Serena Williams, Dominic Thiem, Roger Federer, Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka. Andy Murray, however, is returning to the tournament as a wild card after recovering from major hip surgery.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 Australian Open, beginning with the schedule:
Schedule
Men’s and women’s singles draws Jan. 13
Opening matches, Jan. 17
Quarterfinals, Jan. 25-26
Women’s semifinals, Jan. 26
Men’s semifinals, Jan. 26-27
Women’s singles final, Jan. 29
Men’s doubles final, Jan. 29
Men’s singles final, Jan. 30
Women’s doubles final, Jan. 30
(Note: U.S. TV viewers may see each stage of the tournament a day earlier than than listed because of time differences)
Men’s singles seeding
Novak Djokovic
Daniil Medvedev
Alexander Zverev
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Andrey Rublev
Rafael Nadal
Matteo Berrettini
Casper Ruud
Felix Auger Aliassime
Hubert Hurkacz
Jannik Sinner
Cameron Norrie
Diego Schwartzman
Denis Shapovalov
Roberto Bautista Agut
Cristian Garin
Gael Monfils
Aslan Karatsev
Pablo Carreno Busta
Taylor Fritz
Nikoloz Basilashvili
John Isner
Reilly Opelka
Dan Evans
Lorenzo Sonego
Grigor Dimitrov
Marin Cilic
Karen Khachanov
Ugo Humbert
Lloyd Harris
Carlos Alcaraz
Alex de Minaur
Women’s singles seeding
Ashleigh Barty
Aryna Sabalenka
Garbine Muguruza
Barbora Krejcikova
Maria Sakkari
Anett Kontaveit
Iga Swiatek
Paula Badosa
Ons Jabeur
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Sofia Kenin
Elena Rybakina
Naomi Osaka
Simona Halep
Elina Svitolina
Angelique Kerber
Emma Raducanu
Coco Gauff
Elise Mertens
Petra Kvitova
Jessica Pegula
Belinda Bencic
Leylah Fernandez
Victoria Azarenka
Daria Kasatkina
Jelena Ostapenko
Danielle Collins
Veronika Kudermetova
Tamara Zidansek
Camila Giorgi
Marketa Vondrousova
Sara Sorribes Tormo
How to watch the 2022 Australian Open
- Dates: Jan. 17-30
- Time: Varies
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel
- Stream: fuboTV (try for free)