The Australian Open kicks off the annual Grand Slam calendar in tennis.
The full schedule of events leading up to the Australian Open has been released, with a bevy of exciting tournaments running from the back end of December until late January.
Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra will all host major events as players prepare for the 112th edition of the Australian Open.
29 December – 7 January
The 2024 edition of the United Cup will be played in the Australian cities of Perth (RAC Arena) and Sydney (Ken Rosewall Arena).
Eighteen countries will take part in the upcoming event, with Sydney and Perth to host nine teams each – three more than last year.
As for the players, reigning men’s Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is a notable inclusion, joined by world No.1 Iga Swiatek who is part of the top-seeded Poland team.
31 December – 7 January
The Brisbane International returns to the Queensland Tennis Centre for the first time since 2020, with a WTA 500 and ATP 250 tournament taking place from 31 December to 7 January.
Nine Grand Slam champions headline the 2024 Brisbane International presented by Evie, in one of the strongest fields the tournament has ever seen.
Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jelena Ostapenko, Victoria Azarenka, Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens are among a world-class line-up beginning the 2024 season in Brisbane.
31 December – 6 January
Canberra is set to welcome many of the world’s best tennis players and future stars as they arrive to compete in the Workday Canberra International 2024 from the 31st December through to the 6 January 2024 at the Canberra Tennis Centre.
The Workday Canberra International 2024 announced the playing field which will welcome over 100 players from 6 continents and over 40 separate countries across the globe.
8 – 13 January
The Adelaide International then offers players a final opportunity to fine-tune their skills.
The Adelaide International will feature 16 top-20 players.
Three top-20 men, including Tommy Paul, Nicolas Jarry and Ugo Humbert will join Australians Thanasi Kokkinakis, Alexei Popyrin, as well as Sebastian Korda in the men’s field.
Thirteen of the world’s top-20 women will feature in the women’s WTA 500 draw, including world No.4 Elena Rybakina and world No.5 Jessica Pegula.
8 – 13 January
In Tasmania, the 29th staging of the Hobart International, a WTA 250 event, features in the second week of January.
Two-time champion and world No.29 Elise Mertens headlines the Hobart International field for 2024.
She is joined by Czech star Marie Bouzkova and former world No. 3 Sloane Stephens.
14 – 28 January
The main event, the Australian Open 2024, will feature a star-studded lineup, including a potential face-off between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. The women’s draw will be equally exciting, with top players like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff vying for the title.