Tennis Australian Open 2022: When does the Grand Slam start and what is the latest news?
The world's best tennis players in Australia for the opening Grand Slam of 2022 - the Australian Open.
From a British perspective, all eyes will be on Emma Raducanu as she looks to make her mark again following his victory at the US Open last September.
However, Raducanu has pulled out of her first planned warm-up event in Australia – the Melbourne Summer Set – because of her recent bout of Covid. There appears to be no suggestion that her involvement in the Australian Open could be in danger.
Raducanu was one of several players and staff members to test positive for Covid after travelling to the Mubadala World Tennis Championship event in Abu Dhabi in early December. Although her symptoms were reported to be mild, she was forced to self-isolate for ten days, and this affected her preparation for the new season.
Latest news
Players are seeking competitive matchplay at a variety of tournaments around Australia. Great Britain’s men – Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, and the doubles pairing of Joe Salisbury and Jamie Murray, playing under the captaincy of the popular world No 128 Liam Broady – are competing at the ATP Cup in Sydney. Elsewhere Andy Murray began his 2022 on a losing note on Tuesday, losing to world No 76 Facundo Bagnis in the first round of the Melbourne Summer Series.
Meanwhile Raducanu intends to put in another week of training before competing in the Sydney Classic from Monday Jan 10.
The odds on Novak Djokovic winning his 21st major title in Melbourne – and thus breaking the three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard – have shortened after the world No 1 was granted a medical exemption for the Australian Open, rather than undergoing vaccination like the vast majority of the field.
His withdrawal from the ATP Cup at the start of the year had left doubts over whether he would be able to defend his title but news came on Tuesday that he was travelling Down Under for the first Grand Slam of the year.
Elsewhere Naomi Osaka has already arrived in Melbourne to defend her Australian Open title. Osaka has not played since she lost to Leylah Fernandez in the third round of the US Open in September. After the defeat, the 24-year-old tearfully announced she would take an indefinite break from the sport to focus on her mental health.
When is the Australian Open?
The tournament gets under way on January 17 and concludes with the men's final on January 30.
Where is the Australian Open?
The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park in Victoria.
Who is missing at the Australian Open?
Two of the sport's biggest names - Roger Federer and Serena Williams - will not be in Melbourne as they continue to recover from injuries that disrupted their 2021 seasons. 2014 winner and Federer's Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka is also out.
2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu is also missing as she takes a break from the tour while former British No 1 Jo Konta announced her retirement from tennis in November.
Dominic Thiem has withdrawn as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury.
Australian Open match dates
January 17 – Men's and women's singles first round
January 18 – Men's and women's singles first round
January 19 – Men's and women's singles second round
January 20 – Men's and women's singles second round
January 21 – Men's and women's singles third round
January 22 – Men's and women's singles third round
January 23 – Men's and women's singles fourth round
January 24 – Men's and women's singles fourth round
January 25 – Men's and women's singles quarter-finals
January 26 – Men's and women's singles quarter-finals
January 27 – Women's semi-finals
January 28 – Men's semi-finals
January 29 – Women's final
January 20 – Men's final
How to watch the Australian Open 2022 on TV
Eurosport has the rights to broadcast live action from Melbourne.
Coverage begins at midnight on January 17 for the opening session of the tournament.
