Australian Open 2023: Preview, draw, UK times and where to watch
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We’re heading down under for the first Grand Slam of the year as the world’s best tennis players take to the courts to compete in Melbourne. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Australian Open.
When is the Australian Open 2023?
Qualifying for the Australian Open begins on Monday 9 January through to Friday 13 January.
The main draw for this year’s tournament gets underway on Monday 16 January and will run for two weeks until Sunday 29 January.
The Australian Open wheelchair tennis competitions will round off the first Grand Slam of 2023, beginning on Tuesday 24 January and concluding on Saturday 28 January.
Where is the Australian Open 2023 being held?
Once again, the Australian Open 2023 will be held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne on a hard surface court. Melbourne Park is home to the world-class Rod Laver Arena which has the capacity to hold just under 15,000 spectators, as well as the Hisense Arena, and an abundance of incredible show courts.
Who are the reigning champions?
- Men’s singles – Rafael Nadal (ESP)
- Women’s singles – Ashleigh Barty (AUS)
- Men’s doubles – Nick Kyrgios (AUS) & Thanassi Kokkinakis (AUS)
- Women’s doubles – Barbora Krejčíková (CZE) Kateřina Siniaková (CZE)
- Mixed doubles – Kristina Mladenovic (FRE) and Ivan Dodig (CRO)
- Wheelchair men’s singles – Shingo Kunieda (JPN)
- Wheelchair women’s singles – Diede de Groot (NED)
- Wheelchair men’s doubles – Alfie Hewett (GBR) & Gordon Reid (GBR)
- Wheelchair women’s doubles – Diede de Groot (NED) & Aniek Van Koot (NED)
- Wheelchair quad singles - Sam Schröder (NED)
- Wheelchair quad doubles - Andy Lapthorne (GBR) and David Wagner (USA)
When is the Australian Open 2023 draw?
The draw for the 2023 Australian Open was made on Thursday 12 January.
Which British players will be competing in the Australian Open 2023?
Men’s singles:
British No.1 Cam Norrie enjoyed a stellar year in 2022, which saw him pick up two ATP 250 titles iand reach his first Grand Slam semi-final – positioning himself as a player who could go the distance in Melbourne.
Dan Evans has already enjoyed a taste of success down under this year at the inaugural United Cup and will be looking to better his tournament-best of fourth round at this year’s event.
Jack Draper is set to make his Australian Open debut at this year’s event. The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2022, which saw him end the year inside the world’s Top 50.
Five-time Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray will be looking to continue where he left off last season down under, after reaching his first ATP-level finals since 2017 in Sydney, meanwhile Kyle Edmund rounds off the British men’s line-up.
Women’s singles:
Emma Raducanu is scheduled to make her second main draw appearance at the Australian Open. Last year, Raducanu suffered a second-round defeat against Danka Kovinic and will be looking to embark on a lengthy run in 2023.
Harriet Dart will make her debut in the women’s main draw and comes into the first Grand Slam of the year off the back of an impressive performance at the United Cup where she represented Great Britain.
Doubles:
World No.1 Neal Skupski headlines the extensive British line-up, alongside partner Wesley Koolhof, as the duo search in pursuit of their first Grand Slam title together. Here’s a rundown of all the Brits to have entered the doubles draw this year:
- Joe Salisbury
- Lloyd Glasspool
- Jamie Murray
- Henry Patten
- Julian Cash
- Alicia Barnett
- Olivia Nicholls
- Heather Watson
Wheelchair:
In the wheelchair draws, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid lead the charge for the Brits in the singles and doubles events. Hewett – who reached the singles final of the Australian Open in 2022 – will be hoping he can go one step further to clinch the title this year, while Reid will be striving towards another Grand Slam singles title down under.
The two will then join forces in the doubles draw as they go in pursuit of their 16th Grand Slam trophy together.
After a ground-breaking season in 2022, Ben Bartram will be making his senior debut at the Australian Open this year after receiving one of two wild cards.
Lucy Shuker will be competing in the women’s singles draw this year, while Andy Lapthorne will be looking to defend his quad doubles title in Melbourne.
Check out all the British players competing in Melbourne and track their results.
Prize money for the 2023 Australian Open
This year the Australian Open will be giving away more prize money than ever before.
Singles - men's and women's prize money:
| Winner | $2,975,000 |
| Runner-up | $1,625,000 |
| Semi-final | $925,000 |
| Quarter-final | $555,250 |
| Fourth round | $338,250 |
| Third round | $227,925 |
| Second round | $158,850 |
| First round | $106,250 |
In the doubles draw, the champions will receive $695,000 per team while the runners-up will be awarded $370,000.
How to watch the Australian Open
The first main draw matches will take place on Monday 16 January. With Melbourne being 11 hours ahead of UK time, day session matches will start around midnight with the night sessions taking place around 8:00am GMT.
UK coverage of the Australian Open 2023 will be broadcast live exclusively on Eurosport, eurosport.co.uk and the Discovery+ app.
