Djokovic’s unusual debut: The program for the first day of the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic defending the title of Australian Open champion and world number one at Melbourne Park, from January 14 to 28. The Serbian, 36 years old, returned to the Grand Slam where he won 10 of his record 24 titles, where he opened he has this record.

He admitted he is fit after a wrist injury scare at the start of 2024 during the United Cup. He will open his way against one of the young pearls of international tennis, the 18-year-old Croatian Dino Prizmicjunior king of the last Roland Garros and earned his debut in a major Grand Slam by going past the previous stage.

Tennis Australia (TA), who runs the event, wants to make the event even better by winning another day of competition. There will be fifteen days of matches as they look forward to their start on Sunday, as Roland Garros has been doing for several years now.

This Sunday, January 14, 2024, there will be a story because of it. This will be the premiere of new programming. For the occasion TA chose the historical king, Novak Djokovic who will face an unusual debut, as it is unusual to see a living legend of this sport entering the competition on the first Sunday.

It is no earlier than 9 am in Spanish peninsular and central European time. The night session starts at 7 pm in Melbourne. Then, as a conclusion, the Belarusian champion Aryna Sabalenka began its defense against the German Ella Seidelwhich comes from the previous one.

Djokovic He hopes that this extension of the calendar “will help to better organize the first week, with many games, so that they finish at the appropriate time. Let’s see if it works.” Among tennis’ goals by 2024 is to end matches playing until dawn.

Another curiosity. An applicant as strong as the Italian Jannik Sinnerat 12 noon local time, the headquarters was inaugurated, against the dangerous Dutchman Botic Van by Zandschulp.

The tournament will be televised and streamed Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2, as well as on platforms that have an agreement with these channels, such as Movistar Plus+. You can also follow it through live streams and news of Mundo Deportivo website.

Rod Laver Arena

02:00 hours

Jannik Sinner (ITA/4)-Botic Van De Zandschulp (NED)
Maria Sakkari (GRE/8)-Nao Hibino (JPN)
(not before 9:00 am)
Novak Djokovic (SRB/1) – Dino Prizmic (CRO)
Ella Seidel (GER)-Aryna Sabalenka (BLR/2)

2

Margaret Court Arena

02:00 hours

Mai Hontama (JPN)-Barbora Krejcikova (CHE/9)
Thiago Seyboth Wild (BRA)-Andrey Rublev (RUS/5)
(not before 9:00 am)
Magda Linette (POL/20)-Caroline Wozniacki (DIN)
Frances Tiafoe (USA/17)-Borna Coric (CRO)

3

John Cain Arena

01:00 hours

Leylah Fernandez (CAN/N.32)-Sara Bejlek (CHE)
Dane Sweeny (AUS)-Francisco Cerúndolo (ARG/22)
(not before 06:00 hours)
Taylor Fritz (USA/N.12) – Facundo Diaz Acosta (ARG)

4

Kia Arena

01:00 hours

Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)-Adam Walton (AUS/WC)
Alizé Cornet (FRA/WC)-Maria Timofeeva (RUS)
Liudmila Samsonova (RUS/13)-Amanda Anisimova (USA)
(not before 07:00 hours)
​Diego Galán (COL)-Jason Kubler (AUS/WC)

5

Track 3

01:00 hours

Alexander Shevchenko (RUS)-Jaume Munar (ESP)

6

Track 6

01:00 hours

Kamilla Rakhimova (RUS)-Emina Bektas (USA)
Pavel Kotov (RUS)-Arthur Rinderknech (FRA)
​Sara Sorribes (ESP)-Alina Korneeva (RUS/Q)