Caroline Wozniacki and Roger Federer fill the night-time slots on the Rod Laver arena on the first day of action at the Australian Open as they begin the defence of their 2018 titles.
Federer is going for a hat-trick of titles, his seventh overall in Melbourne, his 100th career title. Wozniacki won her first Major last year to take her to No1: She is now seeded No3—like Federer.
Former Champion Rafael Nadal begins in Monday’s day session, followed by another former champion Angelique Kerber.
Arguably the biggest other first-round matches in the bottom half of the draw will be played on the former Hisense, now named the Melbourne Arena, with Briton Kyle Edmund against one of the most dangerous unseeded men, Tomas Berdych last on in the afternoon, and the highly emotional opening—and perhaps closing—match of five-time finalist Andy Murray against the No22 seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
Should Murray lose, he suggested in his pre-tournament press conference that it could be his last ever appearance in the tournament, perhaps his last match anywhere, as he continues to contend with hip pain after surgery this time last year.
Tuesday sees the top half of the draw get under way, with six-time champion and world No1 Novak Djokovic headlining the night session, followed by US Open champion Naomi Osaka.
The day session sees seven-time champion Serena Williams play her first Melbourne match since winning in 2017 while two months pregnant. Fellow mother and former champion Victoria Azarenka, who has not played in the tournament since 2016, is a dangerous unseeded presence, and opens on Melbourne arena.
World No1 Simona Halep, runner-up last year and French Open champion, begins against the woman who beat her in the first round of her last Major, the US Open, six months ago, Kaia Kanepi. This match headlines the evening session on Margaret Court.
Play begins at 11am for day sessions (gates open 10am) and 7pm evening (doors open 5pm).
[NB Melbourne 11 hours ahead of UK]
Complete schedules of play here
Monday 14 January: Bottom half of both draws
Rod Laver Arena
Maria Sharapova vs Harriet Dart
Rafael Nadal vs James Duckworth
Angelique Kerber vs Polona Hercog
Not before 7pm
Caroline Wozniacki vs Alison van Uytvanck
Roger Federer vs Denis Istomin
Margaret Court Arena
Julia Goerges vs Danielle Collins
Sloane Stephens vs Taylor Townsend
Not before 3pm
Alex de Minaur vs Pedro Sousa
Not before 7pm
Ashleigh Barty vs Luksika Kumkhum
Marin Cilic vs Bernard Tomic
Melbourne Arena (formerly Hisense)
Kevin Anderson vs Adrian Mannarino
Jelena Ostapenko vs Maria Sakkari
Kyle Edmund vs Tomas Berdych
Not before 6pm
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andy Murray
Not before 7pm
Petra Kvitova vs Magdalena Rybarikova
NB Britons Katie Boulter and Heather Watson both play at 11am on Cts12 and 14 respectively. Cameron Norrie plays Taylor Fritz not before 5pm on Ct12. Dan Evans play third on Ct19
Tuesday 15 January: Top half of both draws
Rod Laver Arena
Madison Keys vs Destanee Aiava
Serena Williams vs Tatjana Maria
Alexander Zverev vs Aljaz Bedene
Not before 7pm
Novak Djokovic vs Mitchell Krueger
Naomi Osaka vs Magda Linette
Margaret Court Arena
Kei Nishikori vs Kamil Majchrzak
Daria Gavrilova vs Tamara Zidansek
Venus Williams vs Mihaela Buzarnescu
Not before 7pm
Simona Halep vs Kaia Kanepi
Dominic Thiem vs Benoit Paire
Melbourne Arena (formerly Hisense)
Karolina Pliskova vs Karolina Muchova
Borna Coric vs Steve Darcis
Victoria Azarenka vs Laura Siegemund
Samantha Stosur vs Dayana Yastremska
Not before 7pm
Nick Kyrgios vs Milos Raonic
NB Briton Johanna Konta plays at 11am on Ct3
The post Australian Open 2019: Defending champions Federer & Wozniacki, plus Nadal and Murray, open schedule appeared first on The Sport Review.
