Australian Open 2021: When does it start, match schedule and how to watch on TV
After a three-week delay from its traditional start date, the Australian Open will finally get underway on Monday, February 8, with the spotlight firmly on eight-time men's champion Novak Djokovic and home favourite Ashleigh Barty.
Tournament director Craig Tiley has had the unenviable task of working alongside public health experts to manage the arrival of over 1,200 players and officials into the country on 15 charter flights and, after a strict two-week period in quarantine, the athletes have finally been able to play competitive matches in warm-up tournaments to kick-start their preparations for the event.
Djokovic will begin his campaign for a record-extending ninth Australian Open title as the top seed and most dominant player on hard courts. But the Serbian's great rival Rafael Nadal can move to 21 Grand Slam titles and clear of Roger Federer in the all-time standings with victory at the end of the fortnight.
On the women's side, Barty is making her return to action after opting not to play for the majority of 2020 due to concerns about travelling during the pandemic. The 24 year-old is the world No 1 and top seed but faces a tough battle to win her first Australian Open title with the likes of Naomi Osaka, Simon Halep and defending champion Sofia Kenin featuring in a highly-competitive field.
Meanwhile, 39-year-old Serena Williams will attempt to finally win a record 24th Grand Slam singles title and go level with Margaret Court.
Who are the Brits playing?
The draw threw up some winnable opening matches for the British contingent. On the women’s side, Johanna Konta starts against qualifier Kaja Juvan, but could potentially run into the dangerous US Open semi-finalist Jennifer Brady in the third round.
Francesca Jones – who made such a stir with her run through qualifying in Dubai – has drawn the experienced American Shelby Rogers, while Heather Watson should be happy to play left-handed Czech Krystina Pliskova after beating her in the opening round of last year’s Australian Open.
Finally, Katie Boulter – who showed excellent form in the Gippsland Open this week by beating the exciting teenage prospect Coco Gauff – will take on the touch play of Daria Kasatkina.
On the men’s side, the draw delivered a long shot when the only two Britons in Melbourne – Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie – wound up next to each other on the list.
What about the big names?
First up the women....
For her latest bid to equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, Serena Williams was drawn in the same quarter as second-ranked Simona Halep and the same half as No. 3 Naomi Osaka, the U.S. Open champion.
Osaka will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first round and has major champions Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, Venus Williams and Bianca Andreescu in her quarter.
Defending champion Sofia Kenin is in the top half of the women's draw along with Barty, and they could potentially meet in the semifinals again. Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, Johanna Konta and Elina Svitolina are also in Kenin's quarter.
First up for Williams will be Laura Siegemund of Germany, and that could be either Monday or Tuesday depending on how the schedule is worked out.
As for the men...
The second-ranked Rafael Nadal will open against Laslo Djere and could face fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.
In the top half, Novak Djokovic's bid for a third consecutive Australian title could get tricky. The top-ranked Serb has an opener against Jerome Chardy and three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Alexander Zverev are in his quarter.
Wawrinka beat Djokovic in the finals of the 2015 French Open and the 2016 U.S. Open, and has won their last two matches.
Then there's the projected semifinal against U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem, the man Djokovic beat in last year's final to capture his eighth title at Melbourne Park.
Who are this year's seeds?
Men's seeds
Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal
Dominic Thiem
Daniil Medvedev
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Alexander Zverev
Andrey Rublev
Diego Schwartzman
Matteo Berrettini
Gael Monfils
Denis Shapovalov
Roberto Bautista Agut
David Goffin
Milos Raonic
Pablo Carreno Busta
Fabio Fognini
Women's seeds
Ashleigh Barty
Simona Halep
Naomi Osaka
Sofia Kenin
Elina Svitolina
Karolina Pliskova
Aryna Sabalenka
Bianca Andreescu
Petra Kvitova
Serena Williams
Belinda Bencic
Victoria Azarenka
Johanna Konta
Garbine Muguruza
Iga Swiatek
Petra Martic
Australian Open match dates
February 8 – Men's and women's singles first round
February 9 – Men's and women's singles first round
February 10 – Men's and women's singles second round
February 11 – Men's and women's singles second round
February 12 – Men's and women's singles third round
February 13 – Men's and women's singles third round
February 14 – Men's and women's singles fourth round
February 15 – Men's and women's singles fourth round
February 16 – Men's and women's singles quarter-finals
February 17 – Men's and women's singles quarter-finals
February 18 – Women's semi-finals and first men's semi-final
February 19 – Second men's semi-final
February 20 – Women's final
February 21 – Men's final
Who will be missing at the Australian Open?
Roger Federer is the most high-profile absentee from Melbourne Park as he continues his recovery from double knee surgery in 2020.
Former British No 1 Andy Murray also misses the event after testing positive for Covid-19 and not being able to reach an agreement with the organisers over quarantining.
American John Isner opted to skip the tournament because he didn't want to be away from his family for an extended period of time.
In the women's draw, Kiki Bertens is out with injury while Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova withdrew after a positive coronavirus test.
Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska tested positive for a banned substance and appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, the world No 29 lost her battle and will now depart from Australia, having travelled in the hope of winning her case.
How to watch the Australian Open on TV
Eurosport has the rights to broadcast live action from Melbourne.
Coverage begins at midnight on February 8 which is the start of the first session of the tournament.
The BBC will also show a one-hour highlights package from the fourth round onwards
New innovations
The Australian Open will become the first Grand Slam to have electronic shot callers, instead of line judges, on every match court for the duration of the event.
Remote tracking cameras around the courts will automatically send the audio line calls, voiced by Australian front-line workers and other emergency services personnel, in real-time.
