The 2023 Australian Open is finally here, with the season-opening grand slam getting underway at Melbourne Park from Monday morning.
Six Aussies are in action today with the injury-hit group of local women hoping to avoid an all-time worst once play gets underway.
Follow day one at the Australian Open in our live blog below, with a full order of play and updates at the bottom of the article!
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Kyrgios, Djokovic entertain big crowd | 01:39
KOKK’S BRUTAL ADMISSION FOR SPECIAL KS DREAM
Thanasi Kokkinakis has conceded he’s not expecting the reigning Australian Open doubles champions to repeat the feat.
The ‘Special Ks’ combo of Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios took Melbourne Park by storm last year, with the wildcards eventually winning their first grand slam titles.
But this year should be different for a number of reasons. For a start, the pair are seeded (No.7), and the rest of the doubles world will be well aware of the threat they pose.
Then there is the Kyrgios singles question. After an ankle injury in the tournament lead-up he’s expected to prioritise his run through the Men’s Singles – which may include a quarter-final against Novak Djokovic.
Last year Kyrgios lost in the second round – his tournament was over by Day 4 – which meant he was able to focus on the doubles, which always begin on Day 3.
Asked whether he thinks the team can back up from the 2022 title, Kokkinakis admitted on the weekend: “No, I don’t.
“If I was to say I’m expecting to back it up, I’d be lying.
“Last year was something we didn’t expect. I remember people messaged me after every match we won being like, ‘You’re going to win this thing’.
“I’m like, ‘No, someone’s going to beat us. We’re going to lose to a doubles team, for sure’.
“Then it became a possibility from the quarterfinals, a legit thought, we can be better than these guys, we can win.”
He added: “We’re going to go out there and give 100 per cent and hopefully we’re both healthy going into it.”
The Special Ks will face Nicolas Barrientos and Ariel Behar in the first round of the doubles, likely on Wednesday, and could potentially face fellow Aussies John Millman and Aleks Vukic in the second round.
Tennis boss warns crowd to lay off Novak | 03:28
AUSSIE WOMEN TRY TO AVOID DISASTER
Less than 12 months after Ash Barty raised the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, Australia’s women are staring down the barrel of a pair of all-time lows at their home slam.
Ajla Tomljanovic’s withdrawal this past weekend and Daria Saville’s existing injury mean the only two Aussie women ranked in the world’s top 150 are missing from the Australian Open.
With none of their compatriots making it through qualifying, just five wildcards have made it into the Women’s Singles draw – Jaimee Fourlis (world No.160), Kim Birrell (No.166), Olivia Gadecki (No.200), Storm Hunter (No.227) and Talia Gibson (No.340).
It’s already the first time Australia has failed to have an automatic main draw or qualifying entrant into the women’s Australian Open, and things could yet get worse.
There has never been an Australian Open where a woman failed to make it past Round 1, meaning all eyes will be on Hunter, Gibson and Gadecki as they open their campaigns on Monday.
Gibson, just 18 and rising up the rankings from 1200 at the start of last year, is the most likely winner on day one as she faces qualifier Clara Burel.
Stosur announces retirement after AO | 00:37
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2023
Day 1 Order Of Play (All courts from 11am, all times AEDT)
Rod Laver Arena
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) v [7] Coco Gauff (USA)
Yue Yuan (CHN) v [6] Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Not before 2:30pm
[1] Rafael Nadal (ESP) v Jack Draper (GBR)
Night session from 7pm
[1] Iga Swiatek (POL) v Jule Niemeier (GER)
Marcus Giron (USA) v [7] Daniil Medvedev (RUS)
Show Court 1
[3] Jessica Pegula (USA) v Jaqueline Cristian (ROM)
[10] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) v Pedro Martinez (ESP)
Sofia Kenin (USA) v [24] Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
Night session from 7pm
[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) v Quentin Halys (FRA)
[10] Madison Keys (USA) v Anna Blinkova (RUS)
John Cain Arena
Kyle Edmund (GBR) v [15] Jannik Sinner (ITA)
Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) v [15] Petra Kvitova (CZE)
Not before 3:30pm
Sebastian Baez (ARG) v Jason Kubler (AUS)
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 2
Talia Gibson (AUS) v Clara Burel (FRA)
Court 3, Match 4
John Millman (AUS) v Marc-Andrea Huesler (SWI)
Court 8, Match 1
Polina Kudermetova (RUS) v Olivia Gadecki (AUS)
Court 8, Match 4
Yannick Hanfmann (GER) v Rinky Hijikata (AUS)
Follow updates from the Australian Open in our live blog below!
