The dominant Australian Open women’s favourite and the man who was two sets up in last year’s final begin their Melbourne Park campaigns tonight.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek, who won the French and US Opens last year, is the clear top contender for Ash Barty’s crown and starts against promising German Jule Niemeier on Rod Laver Arena.
Swiatek is the world No.1 by an enormous distance – more than double world No.2 Ons Jabeur’s points total.
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“It’s hard to pick anyone else to win (the tournament) ahead of Swiatek,” tennis great and ESPN analyst Pam Shriver said pre-event.
Following their clash on centre court, Daniil Medvedev – a back-to-back finalist at this event – begins his quest to go a step further when he battles American Marcus Giron.
Also in action tonight are Greece’s No.3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, promising No.6 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, plus last year’s semi-finalist and women’s No.10 seed Madison Keys.
Three Aussies’ matches will take place as well with Storm Hunter (vs Xinyu Wang), John Millman (vs Marc-Andrea Huesler) and Rinky Hijikata (vs Yannick Hanfmann) attempting to reach the second round.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2023
Night 1 Order Of Play
Rod Laver Arena
Night session from 7pm
[1] Iga Swiatek (POL) v Jule Niemeier (GER)
Marcus Giron (USA) v [7] Daniil Medvedev (RUS)
Show Court 1
Night session from 7pm
[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) v Quentin Halys (FRA)
[10] Madison Keys (USA) v Anna Blinkova (RUS)
John Cain Arena
Night session not before 6pm
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v [6] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
Aussies in action
Kia Arena, Match 4
Xinyu Wang (CHN) v Storm Hunter (AUS)
Court 3, Match 4
John Millman (AUS) v Marc-Andrea Huesler (SWI)
Court 8, Match 4
Yannick Hanfmann (GER) v Rinky Hijikata (AUS)
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