We’re getting to the business end of the Australian Open as day 7 rolls on, with the fourth round getting underway.
The two most recent women’s slam champions collide to get play underway before a blockbuster clash between two of the top men’s contenders in the night session.
Follow Day 7 at the Australian Open in our live blog below!
Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
CONFUSION OVER SCHEDULE CALL WITH SLAM CHAMPS
The Australian Open schedule continues to baffle – though at least this time it’s not about players having to stay up late.
Reigning grand slam champions Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina will meet in Sunday’s fourth round – but the star duo have been left off a prime time slot.
It’s the first meeting between reigning grand slam winners since 2021, after Swiatek claimed both the French and US Open crowns while Rybakina took home the Wimbledon title.
Epic “hindrance call” blow up goes viral | 00:59
But the duo will head out onto Rod Laver Arena for the lunchtime match slot – meaning it’s in a terrible time for the European audience.
They also missed out on a nighttime centre court slot, with two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and Lin Zhu instead facing off second after Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner’s clash.
Given Swiatek-Rybakina is the most prestigious and credentialed match on the entire day’s schedule it realistically should have been placed first on Rod Laver Arena at night – the marquee slot for the day.
A women’s match going first at night also means they don’t have to start past 11pm if the men go late – yet tournament organisers have ignored this in recent days.
Making matters worse, Swiatek-Rybakina will be on at the same time as Coco Gauff’s much-anticipated clash with Jelena Ostapenko, giving women’s tennis fans nightmares as they try to watch both matches at the same time.
On John Cain Arena, it’ll be third seed Jess Pegula taking on 20th seed Barbora Krejcikova in the other night contest.
Swiatek and Rybakina have only met once previously – with the Poland star taking the match in straight sets.
But Rybakina says she’ll be ready in round two.
“She’s very strong physically and mentally. I think that if I’m going to play my game, aggressive, I’m going to be solid from the beginning till the end, I have all the chances.”
Demon dominates in straight set win | 01:08
AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 7 – ORDER OF PLAY (All times AEDT)
Day session — singles matches only.
Rod Laver Arena
Not before 12.30pm
[1] Iga Swiatek (POL) v [22] Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
[10] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) v [29] Seb Korda (USA)
Night session from 7pm
[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) v [16] Jannik Sinner (ITA)
[24] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Lin Zhu (CHN)
Margaret Court Arena
Not before 1pm
[17] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) v [7] Coco Gauff (USA)
Not before 3.30pm
Jiri Lehecka (CZE) v [6] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
John Cain Arena
Not before 2.30pm
[31] Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) v [18] Karen Khachanov (RUS)
Not before 5pm
[3] Jessica Pegula (USA) v [20] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)
Follow the Australian Open in the live blog below!
