Overview
- The first round begins Sunday with night matches on Rod Laver Arena featuring No. 1 seeds Aryna Sabalenka vs Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah and Carlos Alcaraz vs Adam Walton.
- Novak Djokovic, chasing a record 25th major, said he can beat anyone when healthy but admitted he is “missing a little bit of juice” in his legs after recent setbacks.
- Emma Raducanu, seeded 28, faces Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the second night match on Margaret Court Arena and said the late start and quick turnaround after arriving Friday are “very difficult.”
- Raducanu’s pre-season was limited by a right-foot bone bruise, and performance analyst Stephen Smith cautioned her situation is high risk and the event “very, very challenging,” with Mats Wilander urging tempered expectations.
- Aryna Sabalenka enters in strong form after a title run in Brisbane and six straight hard-court major finals, while Venus Williams returns on a wildcard poised to become the oldest woman to play in the Australian Open main draw.