Australian Open day two schedule: Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic joined by Gauff, Swiatek and Collins

The Australian Open returns after a wet opening day’s play in Melbourne, and day two is a blockbuster.

Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic all play, with Nick Kyrgios leading Australian hopes.

They are joined by Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, Danielle Collins and Naomi Osaka on a star-studded day’s play.

Here’s what to watch on the three biggest show courts and around the grounds.

Rod Laver Arena

Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT January 11

TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel

Streaming: ESPN+

Coco Gauff (3) vs. Sofia Kenin

Gauff comes to Melbourne in version 3.0, having remade her serve and forehand after a 2024 that didn’t meet her expectations. She is 18-2 since going out of the U.S. Open and in sterling form, but Sofia Kenin has a history of upsetting her in the first round of Grand Slams. It was Kenin’s defeat of Gauff at Wimbledon in 2023 that led her to hire Brad Gilbert, with whom she won the U.S. Open; Kenin is an Australian Open champion herself, having triumphed in 2020.

Jannik Sinner (1) vs. Nicolas Jarry

Sinner is the defending champion, the top-ranked player in the world and seemingly invulnerable on hard courts against anybody not named Carlos Alcaraz. The heaviness of Jarry’s game could cause him trouble, and the weight of the pending World Anti-Doping Agency appeal into his doping case is an unknown factor, but he will expect to come through here.

Novak Djokovic (7) vs. Nishesh Basavareddy (WC)

Djokovic has won the Australian Open more than any other major. He starts his campaign for an 11th title in Australia and a 25th Grand Slam title in total against Basavareddy, who idolizes Djokovic and has a backhand more than a little reminiscent of his opponent. Djokovic losing in the first round in Melbourne is basically unthinkable, but he is not the inevitable force he once was.

Naomi Osaka vs. Caroline Garcia

Just about the most heavyweight unseeded tie possible in the women’s draw. Osaka and Garcia are 1-1 against each other in Melbourne, with Garcia knocking Osaka out in last year’s first round. Then, Osaka was returning from giving birth to her first child, with Garcia seeded; now both players are rebuilding with Garcia having ended her season early, citing injury and burnout.

Margaret Court Arena

Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT January 11

TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel

Streaming: ESPN+

Ajla Tomljanovic (WC) vs. Ashlyn Krueger

Aussie supremacy for the day begins with Tomljanovic opening the Margaret Court Arena. Her home Grand Slam is historically her worst, having never gone beyond the second round, but the home crowd will be willing her on against Krueger. The American beat two top-20 players in the Adelaide warm-up tournament and will be confident of spoiling the party.

Jordan Thompson (27) vs. Dominik Koepfer (Q)

Thompson started the 2024 Australian Open as the world No. 47; he starts this one 20 places better off and seeded at his home major for the first time. Koepfer was the top seed in qualifying and isn’t the player with a (Q) next to his name that Thompson would have picked, but he’ll be hoping to make a deep run.

Alexander Shevchenko vs. Carlos Alcaraz (3)

Alcaraz will become the youngest male player to complete the career Grand Slam if he wins the title in Australia — and he’d be doing it with an almost box-fresh service motion. He beat Shevchenko 6-2, 6-1 in their only previous meeting, and the Kazakh will have to hope that the No. 3 seed is having an off day.

Daria Snigur (Q) vs. Danielle Collins (11)

Snigur produced an upset at a Grand Slam with her first-ever WTA Tour win, beating No. 7 seed Simona Halep in the first round of the 2022 U.S. Open. She hasn’t gone further at a Grand Slam since, recording just a couple of first-round wins. Collins, who postponed her retirement from tennis after learning that her endometriosis would delay starting a family, had her best-ever run at a Grand Slam in Melbourne, reaching the final in 2022 before losing to Ash Barty.

John Cain Arena

Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT January 11

TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel

Streaming: ESPN+

Stefanos Tsitsipas (11) vs. Alex Michelsen

Tsitsipas loves the vibes and the Greek support in Melbourne, but his 2024 form means that this match has the air of an upset. Michelsen is a dangerous player on hard courts, and Tsitsipas will have to be watchful to avoid disappointing his numerous fans here.

Katerina Siniakova vs. Iga Swiatek (2)

Swiatek, who reached the semifinals in 2022 but has gone out in the fourth round on three occasions, looked ominous at times even in defeat to Gauff at the United Cup in Sydney and has an inviting path to the final. Siniakova, who has won all there is to win in doubles, isn’t the same force on the singles court.

Maya Joint (WC) vs. Jessica Pegula (7)

In front of a home crowd and given her form, Joint looks a good bet to at least trouble Pegula, who reached her debut Grand Slam final at last year’s U.S. Open. Coming off the back of a semifinal in Adelaide, the Australian — who played college tennis in America before going pro — will have little to lose and the full support of most of the stadium.

Jacob Fearnley vs. Nick Kyrgios

Kyrgios may be a lightning rod all over tennis but he is the show in Australia, especially on John Cain, the most partisan of the Australian Open’s largest arenas. Fearnley is a nasty draw for the home support, though, having had the best season of his life in 2024 which included putting Djokovic under some serious pressure at Wimbledon. Which version of Kyrgios will show up? Wait and see.

Around the grounds

Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT January 11

TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel

Streaming: ESPN+

Belinda Bencic vs. Jelena Ostapenko (12)

Second on 1573 Arena, Bencic has already reached an impressive level in her comeback after having her first child. Ostapenko could blow her away, but she could also have one of her cold days. Any upset would be a statement victory for Bencic.

Magdalena Frech (23) vs. Polina Kudermetova

Second on Court 13, Kudermetova took a set off world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane final after a remarkable run. Then she came through qualifying for her first Grand Slam main draw. A dangerous draw for No. 23 seed Frech.

Adrian Mannarino vs. Karen Khachanov (19)

Mannarino’s five-set win over Ben Shelton was one of the highlights of the 2024 Australian Open, and Khachanov will be wary of the spinny, subtle Frenchman even though his recent form has been on the slide.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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