Overview
- Top seeds headline the night session on Rod Laver Arena, with Aryna Sabalenka facing Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah followed by Carlos Alcaraz against Australia’s Adam Walton.
- First‑round play starts Sunday in Melbourne with day and night sessions across the show courts at Melbourne Park.
- Previews and betting markets position two‑time defending champion Jannik Sinner and world No. 1 Alcaraz as leading men’s contenders, with Sabalenka the clear women’s favourite.
- Venus Williams returns via wildcard and is set to become the oldest woman in the event’s main draw, opening against Olga Danilovic.
- Global broadcast plans include ESPN and Tennis Channel in the U.S. and TNT Sports/Discovery+ in the U.K., and each singles champion earns AUD $4.15m from the AUD $111.5m prize pool.