Nadal, Swiatek, Young Stars Headline Opening Day At Australian Open
The Australian Open 2023 begins with an all-star line-up Monday led by top seeds Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek playing back-to-back on Rod Laver Arena.
Nadal comes into his title defense in the midst of a rare slump having dropped five of his last six. The world No. 1 Swiatek has won two of the last three Slams and made the semifinals in Australia a year ago, and is the big favorite in Melbourne.
Daniil Medvedev returns seeking Australian glory after reaching the final the last two years.
Stefanos Tsitsipas also knows what it takes to go deep Down Under, but can he take that next step?
Carlos Alcaraz isn’t here but his young colleagues are. Felix Auger-Aliassime, Sebastian Korda, Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti and of course Jack Draper who faces Nadal today.
In the women’s draw, while Swiatek is the pick, who’s next? Today, Barbora Krejcikova opens play along with Emma Raducanu, former finalist Petra Kvitova and the battle of the only two past Australian women winners, Sofia Kenin and Victoria Azarenka.
But the real threats to Swiatek may come from the top Americans, all of whom are playing Monday.
Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys lead plus 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins and Amanda Anisimova.
MONDAY AUSTRALIAN OPEN SCHEDULE
Rod Laver Arena – 11:00 AM
SINIAKOVA, Katerina (CZE) vs. GAUFF, Coco (USA) [7]
YUAN, Yue (CHN) vs. SAKKARI, Maria (GRE) [6]
Not before: 2:30 PM
NADAL, Rafael (ESP) [1] vs. DRAPER, Jack (GBR)
7:00 PM
SWIATEK, Iga (POL) [1] vs. NIEMEIER, Jule (GER)
GIRON, Marcos (USA) vs. MEDVEDEV, Daniil [7]
Margaret Court Arena – 11:00 AM
PEGULA, Jessica (USA) [3] vs. CRISTIAN, Jaqueline (ROU)
HURKACZ, Hubert (POL) [10] vs. MARTINEZ, Pedro (ESP)
KENIN, Sofia (USA) vs. AZARENKA, Victoria [24]
7:00 PM
TSITSIPAS, Stefanos (GRE) [3] vs. HALYS, Quentin (FRA)
KEYS, Madison (USA) [10] vs. BLINKOVA, Anna
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