Australian Open 2024: Road to Finals

The 2024 Australian Open, a prestigious Grand Slam tennis tournament, is being hosted at Melbourne Park from January 14th to 28th. Marking its 112th occurrence and the 56th since the advent of the Open Era, this event is the year's inaugural major championship. The Australian Open showcases professional-level competitions in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles categories. Additionally, junior and wheelchair divisions are also included, featuring both singles and doubles formats. Kia is recognized as the primary sponsor for this edition of the tournament.

Novak Djokovic returns as the reigning champion in the men’s singles category, while Aryna Sabalenka holds the title in the women’s singles division. This year's Australian Open, with a history spanning 119 years, is notably the first to commence on a Sunday.

Tournament Adjustments

Several notable adjustments distinguish this tournament from its predecessors:

• The initial round of matches is spread across three days, as opposed to the traditional two-day schedule.
• To prevent excessively late finishes, such as the 2023 match between Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis that concluded at 4:05 am, the central courts (Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena) have limited their daytime sessions to a maximum of two matches instead of three. However, the schedule for John Cain Arena remains unchanged.
• The total number of game sessions for the tournament has been expanded from 47 to 52, accommodating the additional day of play.

Rafael Nadal's Notable Absence at the Australian Open

Tennis enthusiasts around the globe are feeling the impact of Rafael Nadal's withdrawal from the Australian Open. Nadal, a celebrated champion with 22 grand slam titles to his name, made the decision to pull out of the competition following a "micro tear" he sustained during his match against Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International.