When is the 2021 Australian Open? Times, dates, draws, rankings, TV channel

When is the 2021 Australian Open? Times, dates, TV channel originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

For the first time in over a century, the Australian Open will begin in February this year.

The 2021 edition of the Grand Slam tournament will take place at Melbourne Park, where it’s been held every year since 1988. In an effort not to inhibit Australia’s success in limiting the spread of the coronavirus, all players will be required to arrive by Jan. 15 before submitting themselves to a 14-day quarantine period. Fans will be invited to attend in limited capacity and tickets are already on sale.

Players will compete in the hardcourt event for over $80 million in prize money with those exiting in the first round receiving $100,000 minimum. Nearly all of the top players in the world will be competing, including reigning two-time men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic and 2020 women’s singles winner Sofia Kenin.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2021 Australian Open.

When is the 2021 Australian Open?

For TV viewers in the U.S., the 2021 Australian Open runs from Sunday, Feb. 7 to Sunday, Feb. 21.

The first matches will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Feb. 7 (11 a.m. on Feb. 8 local time) and every day through the Round of 16 will follow the same schedule. Each day will be broken up into two sessions, with the latter beginning at 3 a.m. ET (7 p.m. local time).

Quarterfinal matches start at 7 p.m. ET on Feb. 15-16. The women’s semifinals are on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. ET before the men's semifinals Feb. 18 at 3:30 a.m. ET.

The women's doubles final, men's singles final and mixed doubles semifinal are at 11 p.m. ET on Feb. 18. The women’s singles final and men’s doubles final are scheduled for Feb. 20 at midnight ET. The tournament concludes with the mixed doubles final and men’s singles final at midnight ET on Feb. 21.

Qualifiers will be held Jan. 10-13, with the men playing in Doha and the women in Dubai. Both the men’s and women’s singles tournaments grant 104 invitations for direct entry with eight players added to each as wildcards and another 16 make it via the qualifiers to round out each field of 128.

ATP men’s rankings ahead of 2021 Australian Open (Top 32):

Player, country (ATP world ranking as of Jan. 7)

1. Novak Djokovic, Serbia

2. Rafael Nadal, Spain

3. Dominic Thiem, Austria

4. Daniil Medvedev, Russia

5. Roger Federer, Switzerland – Withdrew (family reasons)

6. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece

7. Alexander Zverev, Germany

8. Andrey Rublev, Russia

9. Diego Schwartzman, Argentina

10. Matteo Berrettini, Italy

11. Gael Monfils, France

12. Denis Shapovalov, Canada

13. Roberto Bautista Agut, Spain

14. Milos Raonic, Canada

15. Pablo Carreno Busta, Spain

16. David Goffin, Belgium

17. Fabio Fognini, Italy

18. Stan Wawrinka, Switzerland

19. Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgaria

20. Karen Khachanov, Russia

21. Felix Auger-Aliassimie, Canada

22. Cristian Garin, Chile

23. Alex de Minaur, Australia

24. Borna Coric, Croatia

25. John Isner, USA (25)

WTA women’s rankings ahead of 2021 Australian Open (Top 32):

Player, country (WTA world ranking as of Jan. 7)

1. Ashleigh Barty, Australia

2. Simona Halep, Romania

3. Naomi Osaka, Japan

4. Sofia Kenin, USA

5. Elina Svitolina, Ukraine

6. Karolina Pliskova, Czech Republic

7. Bianca Andreescu, Canada

8. Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic

9. Kiki Bertens, Netherlands

10. Aryna Sabalenka, Bulgaria

11. Serena Williams, USA

12. Belinda Bencic, Switzerland

13. Victoria Azarenka, Bulgaria

14. Johanna Konta, Great Britain

15. Garbine Muguruza, Spain

16. Madison Keys, USA

17. Iga Swiatek, Poland

18. Petra Martic, Croatia

19. Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan

20. Elise Mertens, Belgium

21. Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic

22. Maria Sakkari, Greece

23. Anett Kontaveit, Estonia

24. Jennifer Brady, USA

25. Angelique Kerber, Germany

26. Alison Riske, USA

27. Karolina Muchova, Czech Republic

28. Yulia Putintseva, Kazakhstan

29. Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine

30. Amanda Anisimova, USA

31. Ons Jabeur, Tunisia

32. Donna Vekic, Croatia 

2021 Australian Open Singles Brackets

Australian Open Men's Singles Bracket:

The 2021 Australian Open men’s singles bracket has not yet been revealed.

Australian Open Women's Singles Bracket:

The 2021 Australian Open women’s singles bracket has not yet been revealed.

What is the 2021 Australian Open tournament schedule?

The 2021 Australian Open will have three weeks of on-the-court action. The generic schedule is as follows:

-Sunday, Feb. 7: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's First Round

-Monday, Feb. 8: 3:00 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's First Round

-Monday, Feb. 8: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's First Round

-Tuesday, Feb. 9: 3:00 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's First Round

-Tuesday, Feb. 9: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's Second Round

-Wednesday, Feb. 10: 3:00 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's Second Round

-Wednesday, Feb. 10: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's Second Round

-Thursday, Feb. 11: 3:00 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's Second Round

-Thursday, Feb. 11: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's Third Round

-Friday, Feb. 12: 3:00 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's Third Round

-Friday, Feb. 12: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's Third Round

-Saturday, Feb. 13: 3:00 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's Third Round

-Saturday, Feb. 13: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's Fourth Round

-Sunday, Feb. 14: 3:00 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's Fourth Round

-Sunday, Feb. 14: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's Fourth Round

-Monday, Feb. 15: 3:00 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's Fourth Round

-Monday, Feb. 15: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's Quarterfinals

-Tuesday, Feb. 16: 3:00 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's Quarterfinals

-Tuesday, Feb. 16: 7:00 p.m. ET: Men's and Women's Quarterfinals

-Wednesday, Feb. 17: 3:30 a.m. ET: Men's and Women's Quarterfinals

-Wednesday, Feb. 17: 7:00 p.m. ET: Women’s Semifinals

-Thursday, Feb. 18: 3:30 a.m. ET: Men's Semifinals

-Thursday, Feb. 18: 11:00 p.m. ET: Mixed Doubles Semifinals, Women’s Doubles Final & Men’s Singles Semifinals

-Saturday, Feb. 20: 12:00 a.m. ET: Women's Singles Final & Men's Doubles Final

-Sunday, Feb. 21: 12:00 a.m. ET: Mixed Doubles Final & Men's Singles Final

How to watch the 2021 Australian Open Tournament

The 2021 Australian Open will be broadcast on ESPN and the Tennis Channel. Streaming will also be available on ESPN.com and through the ESPN app.