2026 Australian Open

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The year's first major commences in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday, Jan. 18. The time difference meaning that play starts Saturday evening in primetime when many of us are watching football. As in the 2024 and 2025 editions, the tournament runs 15 days, from Sunday to Sunday.

This is ESPN’s 42nd annual presentation of the Australian Open, representing its longest uninterrupted professional sports programming relationship.  ESPN has held the rights to the event since 1984 but called the 2021-23 editions from Connecticut with only token personnel (usually their commentators who are also coaches) on site.

The tournament marks ESPN's first tennis coverage since the retirement of Cliff Drysdale, who first appeared on ESPN in the first week of the network's existence in 1979 and signed off at the 2025 US Open. Further details on talent changes can be found in the commentators section below.

Schedule

Live "first ball to last ball" coverage across all 16 courts is available online. The availability of all courts on streaming is not new, but this marks the second year with all courts on behind a paywall. Matches on the three main courts (Rod Laver, Margaret Court and John Cain arenas) were available to ESPN Unlimited subscribers with all other matches on ESPN+. That coverage is usually blocked as 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

ESPN+ also has live coverage of the qualifying tournament and charity matches during the weekend preceding the tournament.

All times are U.S. EST (i.e., New York time), which is 16 hours behind Melbourne time.

2026 Australian Open linear TV coverage
Day U.S. evening Melbourne date Singles round ESPN ESPN2 ESPN Deportes Encore presentations
1 Saturday Sunday, Jan. 18 First 10 p.m.-7 a.m. 7:45 p.m.-7 a.m. ESPN2, 7-10 a.m.
2 Sunday Monday, Jan. 19 First 7 p.m.-7 a.m. 7 p.m.-8 a.m. ESPN2, 8-11 a.m.
3 Monday Tuesday, Jan. 20 First 11:15 p.m.-7 a.m. 11 p.m.-8 a.m. ESPN2, 12-3 p.m.
4 Tuesday Wednesday, Jan. 21 Second 9 p.m.-7 a.m. 7 p.m.-8 a.m. ESPN2, 2-5 p.m.
5 Wednesday Thursday, Jan. 22 Second 9 p.m.-7 a.m. 12-8 a.m. ESPN2, 2-5 p.m.
6 Thursday Friday, Jan. 23 Third 9 p.m.-7 a.m. 7:30 p.m.-8 a.m. ESPN2, 2-5 p.m.
7 Friday Saturday, Jan. 24 Third 9 p.m.-7 a.m. 7:30 p.m.-7:55 a.m. ESPN2, 7-10 a.m.
8 Saturday Sunday, Jan. 25 Round of 16 8 p.m.-7 a.m. 11 p.m.-7:55 a.m. ESPN2, 7:30-10:30 a.m.; ABC, 4-5 p.m.
9 Sunday Monday, Jan. 26 Round of 16 8 p.m.-7 a.m. 7:30 p.m.-8 a.m. ESPN2, 12-3 p.m.
10 Monday Tuesday, Jan. 27 Quarterfinals 3-7 a.m. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m.

3-8:30 a.m.

ESPN2, 1-4 p.m.
11 Tuesday Wednesday, Jan. 28 Quarterfinals 3-7 a.m. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m.

3-8:30 a.m.

ESPN2, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
12 Wednesday Thursday, Jan. 29 Women's semifinals 3:30-7:30 a.m. 3:25-7 a.m. ESPN2, 3-6 p.m.
13 Thursday Friday, Jan. 30 Men's semifinals 10 p.m.-1 a.m.

3:30-6 a.m.

10:25 p.m.-2 a.m.

3:25-7 a.m.

ESPN2, 2-5 p.m.
14 Friday Saturday, Jan. 31 Women's final 3-5:30 a.m. 3-6 a.m. ESPN2, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; ABC, 12-1 p.m.
15 Saturday Sunday, Feb. 1 Men's final 3-6:30 a.m. 3-7:30 a.m. ESPN2, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

Commentators

In addition to Cliff Drysdale's retirement last fall after 46 years at ESPN, the network also discontinued the services of Pam Shriver and Brad Gilbert, who had been on their tennis team since 1990 and 2005 respectively. Shriver posted on X that she was prepared to continue but was told it was time to streamline the coverage. Darren Cahill and Rennae Stubbs did not appear on this tournament but had not ruled out returning in the future.

Following the departures of Drysdale and Shriver, Chris McKendry volunteered to move to play-by-play. Katie George and Malika Andrews assumed host responsibilities. George had previously appeared at the US Open while the tournament marked Andrews' ESPN tennis debut.

Dates in parentheses indicate the year each person joined ESPN's tennis contingent. These are generally taken from the ESPN press release, except for Goodall and Stubbs which do not have dates listed.

Hosts: Katie George (2025), Malika Andrews (2026).

Play-by-play: Chris Fowler (lead; 2003), Jason Goodall (2015), Patrick McEnroe (1995), Chris McKendry (on team since 2016 but as host until 2025), Mike Monaco (2024). (Mary Joe Fernandez has also appeared in this capacity before.)

Analysts: John McEnroe (men's lead, 2009); James Blake (2020), Chris Eubanks (2024), Mary Joe Fernandez (2000), Sam Querrey (2025), Coco Vandeweghe (2024) and Caroline Wozniacki.

Reporter: Kris Budden (2024).

Conventions

The color-coded schedule graphics below are based on an average set length of 40 minutes; a best-of-three match is blocked at an hour and 40 minutes while a best-of-five match is 2:45, based on the likelihood of multiple sets if each set is a coin flip. Suspended matches are prorated based on the score when they are stopped.

Each match's position on the draw is indicated by a number in double square brackets. Each pair of matches with the same number meets in the next round; these numbers start with 1 at the top of the draw and proceed down the list. For example, there are 32 second-round matches, so the last pair of first-round matches is marked with 32.

In the text listing of commentators, each match is numbered sequentially when it first appears. Brief updates on other matches are indented. Angle brackets indicate split-screen coverage.

If there is only a textual listing of the show-court schedule, this means I haven't made the graphic yet and it's coming. :)

Draw

The draw was made on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 2:30 p.m. local time, which is 10:30 p.m. Eastern the night before.

Men's singles draw

One half plays Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday-Monday; other half plays Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Sunday
Quarter Top seeds in top half Top seeds in bottom half Other Americans Other former top-5 players or major champions
Top •#1 Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)

#14 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Spain)

•#10 Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan)

#6 Alex de Minaur (Australia)

•Zachary Svajda

•Michael Zheng
•Sebastian Korda
#19 Tommy Paul
Aleksandar Kovacevic
Reilly Opelka
•Jenson Brooksby
#•29 Frances Tiafoe
•Patrick Kypson

None
Second •#3 Alexander Zverev (Germany)

#13 Andrey Rublev (Russia)

#11 Daniil Medvedev (Russia)

#7 Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada)

•Emilio Nava

#25 Learner Tien
Marcos Giron

None
Third #5 Lorenzo Musetti (Italy)

#9 Taylor Fritz (USA)

#16 Jakub Mensik (Czechia)

#4 Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

Ethan Quinn

#27 Brandon Nakashima

Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria)

#31 Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece)
Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland)

Bottom #8 Ben Shelton (USA)

#12 Casper Ruud (Norway)

#15 Karen Khachanov (Russia)

#2 Jannik Sinner (Italy)

Martin Damm

Alex Michelsen
Nishesh Basavareddy
Eliot Spizzirri

Marin Cilic (Croatia)

•Players with bullet points open tournament on Sunday

Women's singles draw

One half plays Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Sunday; other half plays Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday-Monday
Quarter Top seeds in top half Top seeds in bottom half Other Americans Other former top-5 players or major champions
Top •#1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)

#14 Clara Tauson (Denmark)

•#11 Ekaterina Alexandrova (Russia)

•#7 Jasmine Paolini (Italy)

•Caty McNally

Elizabeth Mandlik
#29 Iva Jovic
Katie Volynets

•#28 Emma Raducanu (Great Britain)
Second #3 Coco Gauff (USA)

#15 Emma Navarro (USA)

•#12 Elina Svitolina (Ukraine)

#8 Mirra Andreeva (Russia)

•Venus Williams

•Haley Baptiste
•Taylor Townsend
Alycia Parks
Ann Li

•#32 Marketa Vondrousova (Czechia), withdrew

Barbora Krejcikova (Czechia)
•Maria Sakkari (Greece)

Third #6 Jessica Pegula (USA)

#9 Madison Keys (USA)

#13 Linda Noskova (Czechia)

#4 Amanda Anisimova (USA)

McCartney Kessler

Sloane Stephens
Ashlyn Krueger
#27 Sofia Kenin
Peyton Stearns

#25 Paula Badosa (Spain)

Karolina Pliskova (Czechia)
#24 Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia)

Bottom #5 Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)

#10 Belinda Bencic (Switzerland)

#16 Naomi Osaka (Japan)

#2 Iga Swiatek (Poland)

None None

•Players with bullet points open tournament on Sunday

Chaos theory

The rules for filling spaces created by withdrawing players are as follows.

  • If a seeded player withdraws before the draw, all lower seeds slide up one line.and the top unseeded player becomes the #32 seed. One of the players who lost in the final round of qualifying becomes a "lucky loser" and receives a spot in the main draw.
  • If an unseeded player withdraws, a lucky loser gets their spot in the draw.
  • If a top-four seed withdraws after the draw but before the initial order of play is released, the #5 seed fills that opening, while the #17 seed takes the #5 seed's place. The top unseeded player becomes a #33 seed and goes in the spot vacated by the #17 seed, and that unseeded player's original place is taken by the lucky loser. If a player seeded 5-16 withdraws, the #17 seed and #33 seeds cascade up as described previously with the lucky loser replacing the #33 seed.
  • Once the order of play for the first day is released, any player who withdraws before the first ball of their match is simply replaced by a lucky loser.
  • A player who has started their first match of the tournament and withdraws is not replaced: their opponent advances.

Day 1 - Saturday night into Sunday, January 18

On The Docket: 32 matches, 79.7 hours

  • Men's singles: 16 first-round matches (8 seeds, 7 Americans)
  • Women's singles: 16 first-round matches (originally 7 seeds, 3 Americans; later 6 seeds, 4 Americans)
    • After the order of play was released, #32 Marketa Vondrousova withdrew and was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Taylor Townsend.

Forecast: Sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h (12-18 mph) tending south to southeasterly in the morning then tending east to southeasterly in the evening. Maximum temperature 29C/84F.

Sunset: 8:42 p.m. local / 4:42 a.m. EST.

TV Schedule: ESPN2, 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. EST. ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+, all day.

2026-01-18 Australian Open order of play.png
EST Match Opponents Court Commentators Notes
10:09 Open Delayed by Louisville/Pittsburgh college basketball
10:11 Studio Katie George, Caroline Wozniacki
10:14 1 Zverev/Diallo RLA Patrick McEnroe, James Blake
10:24 2 Svitolina/Bucsa JCA Chris McKendry, CoCo Vandeweghe
10:32 3 McNally/Sakatsume 8 Chris McKendry, CoCo Vandeweghe end #1 at 10:34
10:37 4 Baptiste/Townsend 13 Chris McKendry, CoCo Vandeweghe
10:50 <Zverev/Diallo split-screen to 10:51>
11:01 Svitolina/Bucsa end #2 at 11:03
11:06 Studio Tournament update Katie George, Caroline Wozniacki
11:08 Zverev/Diallo
11:37 Studio Breaking news: Bo Nix (NFL) injury Katie George
11:41 Studio Tournament update Katie George, Caroline Wozniacki
11:44 Baptiste/Townsend
12:04 Zverev/Diallo end #3 at 12:08
12:09 Baptiste/Townsend
12:17 5 Nava/Jacquet 6 Chris McKendry, CoCo Vandeweghe
12:21 6 Zheng/Korda Kia Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks
12:26 7 Kostyuk/Jacquemot ANZ Chris McKendry, CoCo Vandeweghe
12:29 Zheng/Korda
12:34 Kostyuk/Jacquemot end #5 at 12:53
12:50 <Baptiste/Townsend split-screen, end #4 at 12:51>
12:56 Haley Baptiste interview Kris Budden
12:59 Zheng/Korda
1:21 Studio Katie George, Caroline Wozniacki
1:25 8 Tiafoe/Kubler JCA Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks
1:26 Zheng/Korda
1:45 <Nava/Jacquet Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks split-screen to full at 1:48>, end #6 at 1:55
1:58 Tiafoe/Kubler Mike Monaco, Sam Querrey talent change 1st set 5-6
2:12 Studio Tournament update Katie George, James Blake
2:15 Zheng/Korda
2:34 <Tiafoe/Kubler split-screen to full at 2:40>
2:42 <Zheng/Korda split-screen to full at 2:46>
2:50 Tiafoe/Kubler
3:04 Primetime open
3:05 Studio Katie George, James Blake
3:06 Zheng/Korda end #8 at 3:31
3:28 <Tiafoe/Kubler to end #7 at 3:29>
3:37 9 Sabalenka/Rakotomanga Rajaonah RLA Chris McKendry, Mary Joe Fernandez
4:05 Studio Tournament update Katie George, James Blake
4:09 Michael Zheng interview Kris Budden
4:11 10 Danilovic/Williams JCA Chris McKendry, Mary Joe Fernandez
4:31 Sabalenka/Rakotomanga Rajaonah end #9 at 4:33
4:34 Danilovic/Williams
4:58 Studio Tournament update Katie George, James Blake
5:00 11 Alcaraz/Walton RLA Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe
5:14 12 <Bublik/Brooksby MCA Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks split-screen to end #10 at 5:17>
5:20 UPDATE: Danilovic/Williams
5:21 Alcaraz/Walton
5:47 Danilovic/Williams end #11 at 6:16
6:22 Alcaraz/Walton
6:37 Studio Katie George, Chris Eubanks
6:39 Alcaraz/Walton end #13 at 7:03
6:51 13 <Raducanu/Sawangkaew MCA Mike Monaco, Mary Joe Fernandez split-screen to end #12 at 6:53>
7:08 Sunday night billboard
7:09 Sign off

Day 2 - Sunday night into Monday, January 19

On The Docket: 56 matches, 140.0 hours

  • Men's singles: 28 first-round matches (14 seeds, 8 Americans)
  • Women's singles: 28 first-round matches (15 seeds, 12 Americans)

Forecast: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming southeasterly 20 to 25 km/h (12-15 mph) in the late afternoon then decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h (9-12 mph) in the late evening. Maximum temperature 30C/86F.

Sunset: 8:42 p.m. local / 4:42 a.m. EST.

TV Schedule: ESPN2, 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. EST. ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+, all day.

2026-01-19 Australian Open order of play.png
EST Match Opponents Court Commentators Notes
7:14 Open Delayed by North Texas/Tulane college basketball
7:16 Tease Katie George
7:17 Studio Katie George, Chris Eubanks
7:25 1 Auger-Aliassime/Borges JCA Katie George, Chris Eubanks
7:27 2 Navarro/Linette 1573 Katie George, Chris Eubanks
7:31 3 Kenin/Stearns ANZ Katie George, Chris Eubanks
7:41 4 Gauff/Rakhimova RLA Mike Monaco, Mary Joe Fernandez, ''CoCo Vandeweghe'' first ball 7:44, end #1 at 9:23
7:59 UPDATE: Kenin/Stearns
8:40 Studio Tournament update/toilet break Katie George, Chris Eubanks
8:42 Peyton Stearns interview Kris Budden also during toilet break
9:25 Post-match interview CoCo Vandeweghe
9:33 Studio Katie George, Chris Eubanks
9:41 5 Paul/Kovacevic 13 Patrick McEnroe, James Blake
9:49 UPDATE: Li/Osorio
9:50 6 Budkov Kjaer/Opelka 14 Patrick McEnroe, James Blake
9:57 7 Medvedev/de Jong MCA Patrick McEnroe, James Blake
10:09 Paul/Kovacevic end #2 at 10:13
10:14 Medvedev/de Jong
10:22 Budkov Kjaer/Opelka
10:25 Medvedev/de Jong end #4 at 10:35
10:28 <Budkov Kjaer/Opelka split-screen to end #3 at 10:28>
10:36 Studio with Coco Gauff Katie George, Chris Eubanks
10:47 8 Pegula/Zakharova JCA Jason Goodall, Caroline Wozniacki end #5 at 11:17
10:59 UPDATE: Anisimova/Waltert
11:25 Studio with Coco Gauff Katie George, Chris Eubanks
11:27 9 Anisimova/Waltert MCA Jason Goodall, Caroline Wozniacki
11:36 10 de Minaur/McDonald RLA Mike Monaco, Sam Querrey end #6 at 11:37
11:42 Anisimova/Waltert
11:43 Studio with Tommy Paul Katie George, Chris Eubanks
11:48 Anisimova/Waltert
11:51 11 Parks/Eala 6 Jason Goodall, Caroline Wozniacki, ''Kris Budden''
11:58 Anisimova/Waltert end #7 at 11:59
12:01 Post-match interview Mary Joe Fernandez
12:07 12 Djere/Wawrinka Kia Mike Monaco, Sam Querrey
12:12 13 Davidovich Fokina/Misolic 13 Mike Monaco, Sam Querrey end #8 at 12:14
12:18 Parks/Eala end #9 at 12:41
12:44 Studio with Jessica Pegula Katie George, Chris Eubanks
12:49 Alycia Parks interview Kris Budden
12:54 14 Tien/Giron 5 Mike Monaco, Sam Querrey, CoCo Vandeweghe
1:12 15 Jovic/Volynets 13 Mike Monaco, Sam Querrey, CoCo Vandeweghe
1:18 Tien/Giron
1:28 Report about ball selection Kris Budden
1:30 Djere/Wawrinka
1:33 Tien/Giron end #10 at 1:38
1:43 16 Mboko/Jones 1573 Mike Monaco, CoCo Vandeweghe
1:45 Jovic/Volynets
1:49 Learner Tien interview Kris Budden
1:52 Jovic/Volynets end #11 at 2:00
2:04 Djere/Wawrinka
2:13 <Mboko/Jones split-screen to full 2:16> end #12 at 2:16
2:17 Djere/Wawrinka end #13 at 2:41
2:43 Post-match interview Colin Fleming
2:51 Tournament update Mike Monaco
2:53 17 Shapovalov/Bu ANZ Mike Monaco, CoCo Vandeweghe
2:54 18 Starodubtseva/Tomljanovic JCA Mike Monaco, CoCo Vandeweghe
3:09 Primetime open
3:10 19 Swiatek/Yuan RLA Chris McKendry, Caroline Wozniacki first ball 3:17
3:58 20 <Andreeva/Vekic MCA Chris McKendry, Caroline Wozniacki split-screen to 4:06>
4:19 Studio Katie George, James Blake
4:28 Swiatek/Yuan
4:29 UPDATE: Andreeva/Vekic
4:35 Andreeva/Vekic
4:43 Swiatek/Yuan
4:47 Andreeva/Vekic
4:58 Swiatek/Yuan end #15 at 5:17
5:05 <Andreeva/Vekic split-screen to end #14 at 5:07>
5:19 Swiatek post-match Andrea Petkovic
5:28 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
5:36 20 Djokovic/Martinez RLA Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe first ball 5:39
6:06 UPDATE: Djere/Wawrinka Katie George, Sam Querrey
6:56 21 <Popyrin/Muller JCA Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe to full 6:59>
7:05 Djokovic/Martinez end #17 at 7:39
7:12 22 <Ruud/Bellucci MCA Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe to end #16 at 7:12>
7:42 Sign off

Day 3 - Monday night into Tuesday, January 20

On The Docket: 56 matches, 131.3 hours

  • Men's singles: 20 first-round matches (8 seeds, 6 Americans)
  • Women's singles: 20 first-round matches (9 seeds, 3 Americans)
  • Men's doubles: 8 first-round matches (3 seeds, 0 Americans)
  • Women's doubles: 8 first-round matches (2 seeds, 3 Americans)

Forecast: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and early evening. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h (9-12 mph) tending southerly 20 to 25 km/h (12-15 mph) in the early afternoon then tending southeasterly in the late evening. Maximum temperature 28C/82F.

Sunset: 8:41 p.m. local / 4:41 a.m. EST.

TV Schedule: ESPN2, 11:15 p.m. - 7 a.m. EST. ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+, all day.

2026-01-20 Australian Open order of play.png
EST Match Opponents Court Commentators Notes
11:26 Tease Katie George after Indiana/Miami college football
11:27 1 Shelton/Humbert RLA Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe
11:28 Studio Katie George, James Blake
11:32 2 Khachanov/Michelsen JCA Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe
11:35 3 Fonseca/Spizzirri 1573 Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe
11:40 Report  from Oval Kris Budden
11:42 Fonseca/Spizzirri
11:43 Shelton/Humbert
11:53 UPDATE: Rybakina/Juvan Chris McKendry, Caroline Wozniacki
12:00 4 Sweeny/Monfils Kia Mike Monaco, Chris Eubanks
12:12 Shelton/Humbert end #1 at 12:28
12:19 <Fonseca/Spizzirri split-screen to 12:21>
12:25 <Khachanov/Michelsen split-screen to 12:27>
12:33 Studio Katie George, James Blake
12:35 UPDATE: Rybakina/Juvan Chris McKendry, Caroline Wozniacki
12:36 Madison Keys interview Kris Budden
12:38 Ethan Quinn interview Kris Budden
12:45 Khachanov/Michelsen
12:46 Fonseca/Spizzirri
12:49 Khachanov/Michelsen end #3 at 1:07
12:53 <Fonseca/Spizzirri split-screen to 12:55>
12:57 <Fonseca/Spizzirri split-screen to end #2 at 1:02>
1:08 Eliot Spizzirri interview Kris Budden
1:15 Tournament update Mike Monaco
1:16 5 O'Connell/Basavareddy ANZ Mike Monaco, Chris Eubanks end #4 at 1:22
1:27 UPDATE: Mensik/Carreno Busta
1:29 Sweeny/Monfils
2:00 6 Fritz/Royer JCA Mike Monaco, Chris Eubanks
2:07 Studio with Ben Shelton Katie George, James Blake
2:17 Fritz/Royer
2:24 <Sweeny/Monfils split-screen to 2:28>
2:36 <Sweeny/Monfils split-screen to 2:38>
2:49 Sweeny/Monfils end #5 at 2:57
3:00 Sweeny/Monfils interviews Roger Rashid
3:09 7 Sinner/Gaston RLA Patrick McEnroe, James Blake first ball 3:17
3:11 Interview with Sinner's coach Patrick McEnroe, James Blake
3:25 <Fritz/Royer split-screen to 3:28>
3:31 Fritz/Royer
3:46 Sinner/Gaston
3:57 Studio Katie George, CoCo Vandeweghe
4:00 Fritz/Royer
4:03 8 Sakamoto/Jodar 5 Patrick McEnroe, James Blake end #6 at 4:06
4:10 9 Bencic/Boulter MCA Chris McKendry, Mary Joe Fernandez
4:22 Sinner/Gaston end #7 at 4:24 by retirement
4:27 Bencic/Boulter end #8 at 4:39
4:44 Fritz/Royer end #9 at 4:56
5:01 Studio Katie George, CoCo Vandeweghe
5:04 10 Osaka/Ruzic RLA Mike Monaco, Mary Joe Fernandez
5:30 UPDATE: Tsitsipas/Mochizuki, Duckworth/Prizmic
5:49 11 Tsitsipas/Mochizuki MCA Jason Goodall, Sam Querrey
5:51 12 Duckworth/Prizmic 6 Jason Goodall, Sam Querrey end #10 at 6:05
6:09 Taylor Fritz interview Kris Budden
6:12 Studio Katie George, CoCo Vandeweghe
6:13 Osaka/Ruzic
6:28 Tsitsipas/Mochizuki
6:31 <Osaka/Ruzic split-screen to 6:33>
6:40 Osaka/Ruzic end #11 at 7:24
6:56 <Tsitsipas/Mochizuki split-screen to 6:37>
7:10 <Tsitsipas/Mochizuki split-screen to 7:11>
7:24 Post-match interview Jelena Dokic
7:34 Tournament update Katie George
7:38 Tuesday night billboard
7:39 Tsitsipas/Mochizuki end #12 at 8:00
8:01 Sign off

Day 4 - Tuesday night into Wednesday, January 21

On The Docket: 57 matches, 128.75 hours

  • Men's singles: 16 second-round matches (13 seeds, 6 Americans)
  • Women's singles: 16 second-round matches (11 seeds, 6 Americans)
  • Men's doubles: 12 first-round matches (6 seeds, 5|4 Americans)
  • Women's doubles: 13 first-round matches (8 seeds, 7|6 Americans)

Forecast: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h (9-12 mph) turning south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h (9-15 mph) early in the morning then increasing to 25 to 35 km/h (15-21 mph) in the early afternoon. Maximum temperature 23C/73F.

Sunset: 8:41 p.m. local / 4:41 a.m. EST.

TV Schedule: ESPN2, 9 p.m. - 7 a.m. EST. ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+, all day.

2026-01-21 Australian Open order of play.png
EST Match Opponents Court Commentators Notes
9:07 Tease Katie George delayed by LSU-Florida men's basketball
9:10 Studio Katie George, James Blake
9:11 1 Paul/Tirante 1573 Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks end #1 at 9:13
9:18 2 Shnaider/Gibson Kia Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks end #3 at 9:25
9:31 3 Rublev/Faria MCA Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks, Mary Joe Fernandez
9:32 4 Mboko/McNally 1573 Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks, Mary Joe Fernandez
9:36 5 <Hunter/Baptiste Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks, Mary Joe Fernandez split-screen to 9:39>
9:53 Studio Katie George, James Blake with Kris Budden reporting about Naomi Osaka's outfit
9:57 Mboko/McNally
9:58 6 Medvedev/Halys JCA Jason Goodall, Chris Eubanks, Mary Joe Fernandez
10:03 Mboko/McNally
10:10 7 Alcaraz/Hanfmann RLA Mike Monaco, John McEnroe first ball 10:13
10:30 UPDATE: Mboko/McNally, Hunter/Baptiste
11:04 UPDATE: Gauff/Danilovic
11:26 8 <Gauff/Danilovic Jason Goodall, Mary Joe Fernandez split-screen to 11:28>
11:34 Gauff/Danilovic
11:38 Studio with Aryna Sabalenka Katie George, James Blake
11:45 Medvedev/Halys Mike Monaco, John McEnroe from fourth set 3-2
11:53 9 Davidovich Fokina/Opelka Kia Mike Monaco, John McEnroe
11:58 UPDATE: Medvedev/Halys
12:01 UPDATE: Gauff/Danilovic
12:03 Alcaraz/Hanfmann
12:05 <Gauff/Danilovic split-screen to full at 12:07> end #3 at 12:15
12:17 Gauff post-match interview Chris Eubanks
12:20 Alcaraz/Hanfmann end #4 at 12:52
12:32 UPDATE: Davidovich Fokina/Opelka
1:04 Davidovich Fokina/Opelka Patrick McEnroe, Sam Querrey at beginning of fifth set
1:15 10 Tien/Shevchenko ANZ Mike Monaco, John McEnroe
1:16 11 Moutet/Zheng 6 Patrick McEnroe, Sam Querrey
1:26 Interview with Zheng's college coach Kris Budden
1:29 Davidovich Fokina/Opelka end #5 at 1:32
1:37 Moutet/Zheng
1:41 UPDATE: Thompson/Borges
1:45 UPDATE: Tien/Shevchenko
1:49 Tien/Shevchenko
1:54 UPDATE: Moutet/Zheng
1:55 12 Thompson/Borges 1573 Patrick McEnroe, Sam Querrey
2:06 UPDATE: Moutet/Zheng (Zheng retired)
2:12 Tien/Shevchenko end #6 at 2:17
2:19 Learner Tien interview Kris Budden
2:24 Thompson/Borges end #7 at 2:27
2:33 Wednesday night billboard
2:34 13 Norrie/Nava 7 Mike Monaco, James Blake, Caroline Wozniacki
2:41 14 <Bublik/Fucsovics Kia Mike Monaco, James Blake, Caroline Wozniacki split-screen to 2:43>
2:45 Bublik/Fucsovics
2:51 15 Muchova/Parks 1573 Mike Monaco, James Blake, Caroline Wozniacki
2:58 Norrie/Nava
3:27 16 Andreeva/Sakkari MCA Chris McKendry, CoCo Vandeweghe
3:33 <Muchova/Parks split-screen to 3:34>
3:55 17 de Minaur/Medjedovic RLA Mike Monaco, James Blake
3:58 Andreeva/Sakkari
4:00 de Minaur/Medjedovic
4:08 <Bublik/Fucsovics split-screen to end #8 at 4:09>
4:14 Andreeva/Sakkari end #9 at 4:19
4:25 18 Zverev/Muller JCA Mike Monaco, James Blake
4:35 de Minaur/Medjedovic
4:39 Norrie/Nava
4:42 <de Minaur/Medjedovic split-screen to full 4:47>
4:54 19 Tiafoe/Comesana MCA Patrick McEnroe, Chris Eubanks
4:56 Norrie/Nava rain stopped play at 5:02
5:08 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
5:11 Iva Jovic interview Kris Budden
5:19 Tiafoe/Comesana play resumed under roof at 5:20
5:44 Zverev/Muller
5:48 Tiafoe/Comesana
6:02 Norrie/Nava play resumed 6:03, end #10 at 6:06
6:08 Muchova/Parks end #11 at 6:17
6:20 Tiafoe/Comesana
6:30 Zverev/Muller end #13 at 6:45
6:35 <de Minaur/Medjedovic split-screen to 6:36>
6:39 <de Minaur/Medjedovic split-screen to end #12 at 6:40>
6:48 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
6:52 Tiafoe/Comesana
7:13 UPDATE: Jovic/Hon
7:23 20 Jovic/Hon RLA Chris McKendry, Caroline Wozniacki
7:39 <Tiafoe/Comesana split-screen to full 7:46>
7:51 UPDATE: Paolini/Frech
7:51 Jovic/Hon
7:57 Tiafoe/Comesana
8:01 UPDATE: Jovic/Hon
8:03 Jovic/Hon
8:05 Tiafoe/Comesana end #13 at 8:06
8:08 Jovic/Hon end #14 at 8:10
8:12 Sign off

Day 5 - Wednesday night into Thursday, January 22

On The Docket: 60 matches, 132.8 hours

  • Men's singles: 16 second-round matches (13 seeds, 5 Americans)
  • Women's singles: 16 second-round matches (12 seeds, 6 Americans)
  • Men's doubles: 12 first-round matches (6 seeds, 4 Americans), 1 second-round match
  • Women's doubles: 11 first-round matches (7 seeds, 8|7 Americans)
  • Mixed doubles: 4 first-round matches (2 seeds, 3|2 Americans)

Forecast: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers this morning. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h (12-18 mph) tending southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h (9-12 mph) in the late evening. Maximum temperature 20C/68F.

Sunset: 8:40 p.m. local / 4:40 a.m. EST.

TV Schedule: ESPN2, 9 p.m. - 7 a.m. EST. ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+, all day.

2026-01-22 Australian Open order of play.png
EST Match Opponents Court Commentators Notes
8:56 Tease Katie George ND/UNC men's basketball ended early
8:57 Studio Katie George, Chris Eubanks
9:01 1 Shelton/Sweeny JCA Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe
9:28 Studio Tournament update Katie George, CoCo Vandeweghe
9:32 Report re Novak Djokovic Kris Budden
9:42 2 Djokovic/Maestrelli RLA Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe first ball 9:46
10:30 <Shelton/Sweeny split-screen to full at 10:32>, end #1 at 10:33
10:38 Studio Katie George, CoCo Vandeweghe
10:39 Djokovic/Maestrelli
11:21 3 Hurkacz/Quinn 1573 Katie George, Sam Querrey called from studio, end #2 at 11:22
11:25 Ethan Quinn interview Kris Budden
11:30 4 Anisimova/Siniakova MCA Chris McKendry, Mary Joe Fernandez, ''CoCo Vandeweghe''
11:33 Djokovic/Maestrelli end #3 at 12:01
11:50 <Anisimova/Siniakova split-screen to 11:56>
12:06 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
12:07 Peyton Stearns interview Kris Budden
12:09 Anisimova/Siniakova end #4 at 12:39
12:24 UPDATE: Spizzirri/Wu
12:41 Anisimova post-match interview CoCo Vandeweghe
12:47 Studio with Madison Keys Katie George, Sam Querrey
12:56 5 Spizzirri/Wu 13 Jason Goodall, Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Querrey
1:04 UPDATE: Gea/Wawrinka
1:18 6 Swiatek/Bouzkova JCA Jason Goodall, Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Querrey
1:33 7 Gea/Wawrinka Kia Jason Goodall, Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Querrey
1:38 Report on grounds traffic Kris Budden
1:40 Gea/Wawrinka
1:51 Swiatek/Bouzkova
2:08 UPDATE: Spizzirri/Wu, Shapovalov/Cilic
2:10 Studio Katie George, Chris Eubanks
2:22 Swiatek/Bouzkova end #5 at 2:33
2:37 Spizzirri/Wu end #6 at 2:43
2:44 8 Shapovalov/Cilic
2:50 Taylor Fritz coach interview Kris Budden
2:52 Gea/Wawrinka

Selected primetime commentators (3-8:06 a.m.):

  • Sinner/Duckworth: Mike Monaco, Chris Eubanks
  • Osaka/Cirstea: Chris McKendry, CoCo Vandeweghe; post-match interview Chanda Rubin
  • Tsitsipas/Machac: Jason Goodall, Sam Querrey
  • Fritz/Kopriva: Mike Monaco, Chris Eubanks, James Blake
  • Bencic/Bartunkova and Rybakina/Gracheva: Jason Goodall, Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Querrey

Day 6 - Thursday night into Friday, January 23

On The Docket: 41 matches, 85.5 hours

  • Men's singles: 8 third-round matches (13 seeds, 3 Americans)
  • Women's singles: 8 third-round matches (10 seeds, 3 Americans)
  • Men's doubles: 8 second-round matches (6 seeds, 4|3 Americans)
  • Women's doubles: 1 first-round match (0 seeds, 0 Americans), 9 second-round matches (7 seeds, 3 Americans)
  • Mixed doubles: 7 first-round matches (4 seeds, 2 Americans)

Forecast: Sunny. Light winds becoming southerly 15 to 25 km/h (9-15 mph) in the early afternoon then tending southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h (9-12 mph) in the late evening. Maximum temperature 26C/79F.

Sunset: 8:40 p.m. local / 4:40 a.m. EST.

TV Schedule: ESPN2, 9 p.m. - 7 a.m. EST. ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+, all day.

2026-01-23 Australian Open order of play.png
EST Match Opponents Court Commentators Notes
9:04 Tease Katie George Delayed by USF-UAB men's basketball
9:04 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
9:04 1 Sabalenka/Potapova RLA Mike Monaco, Chris Eubanks
9:09 2 <Tauson/Mboko JCA Mike Monaco, Chris Eubanks split-screen to 9:10>
9:23 UPDATE: Tien/Borges
9:31 Tauson/Mboko end #1 at 9:32
9:33 Sabalenka/Potapova end #2 at 9:45
9:48 Sabalenka post-match interview Casey Dellacqua
9:56 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
9:58 3 Medvedev/Maroszan MCA Chris Fowler, John McEnroe
10:03 4 Alcaraz/Moutet RLA Chris Fowler, John McEnroe, James Blake first ball 10:11
10:32 5 <Davidovich Fokina/Paul JCA Mike Monaco, Chris Eubanks split-screen to 10:34>
10:57 UPDATE: Davidovich Fokina/Paul (end by retirement)
11:17 <Medvedev/Maroszan split-screen to 11:18
11:23 Medvedev/Maroszan end #3 at 11:25
11:26 Alcaraz/Moutet
11:41 6 Gauff/Baptiste MCA Jason Goodall, Caroline Wozniacki first ball 11:51
12:07 <Alcaraz/Moutet split-screen to 12:08>
12:12 <Alcaraz/Moutet split-screen to full 12:14>, end #4 at 12:15
12:21 Gauff/Baptiste end #5 at 1:40
1:42 Gauff post-match interview Mary Joe Fernandez
1:50 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
1:53 Report on heat rules Kris Budden
1:59 7 Paolini/Jovic JCA Chris McKendry, Mary Joe Fernandez, CoCo Vandeweghe end #6 at 2:59
3:01 Jovic post-match interview CoCo Vandeweghe
3:05 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
3:07 Frances Tiafoe interview Kris Budden
3:09 8 de Minaur/Tiafoe RLA Patrick McEnroe, James Blake, Chris Eubanks first ball 3:15
3:26 9 <Svitolina/Shnaider MCA Jason Goodall, Caroline Wozniacki split-screen to 3:28>
3:58 Svitolina/Shnaider
4:06 UPDATE: Rublev/Cerundolo
4:07 de Minaur/Tiafoe
4:15 10 Zverev/Norrie JCA Patrick McEnroe, James Blake
4:20 de Minaur/Tiafoe
4:43 <Svitolina/Shnaider split-screen to end #7 at 4:45>
4:51 de Minaur/Tiafoe
5:02 Zverev/Norrie
5:06 de Minaur/Tiafoe end #8 at 5:58
6:05 Studio with Carlos Alcaraz Katie George, Sam Querrey sunlight outside suggests this was taped
6:14 Studio Katie George, Mary Joe Fernandez
6:22 UPDATE: Zverev/Norrie
6:25 11 Andreeva/Ruse RLA Mike Monaco, Sam Querrey, Mary Joe Fernandez
6:42 12 Bublik/Etcheverry MCA Mike Monaco, Sam Querrey, Mary Joe Fernandez
6:55 <Andreeva/Ruse split-screen to 6:56>
7:05 Andreeva/Ruse
7:10 Studio Katie George, Chris Eubanks
7:13 Andreeva/Ruse
7:22 Bublik/Etcheverry
7:26 Andreeva/Ruse
7:43 <Bublik/Etcheverry split-screen to 7:45>
7:47 Bublik/Etcheverry end #9 at 7:48
7:50 Andreeva/Ruse end #10 at 7:59
8:02 Best shots of the day
8:03 Sign off

Day 7 - Friday night into Saturday, Jan. 24

On The Docket: 67 matches, 137.6 hours

  • Men's singles: 8 third-round matches (10 seeds, 4 Americans)
  • Women's singles: 8 third-round matches (9 seeds, 4 Americans)
  • Men's doubles: 7 second-round matches (6 seeds, 2 Americans)
  • Women's doubles: 7 second-round matches (6 seeds, 5|4 Americans)
  • Mixed doubles: 5 first-round matches (2 seeds, 2 Americans)
    • Tour total: 35 matches
  • Boys singles: 16 first-round matches
  • Girls singles: 16 first-round matches

Forecast: Sunny. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening. Maximum temperature 40C/104F.

Sunset: 8:39 p.m. local / 4:39 a.m. EST.

TV Schedule: ESPN2, 9 p.m. - 7 a.m. EST. ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+, all day.

2026-01-24 Australian Open order of play.png
EST Match Opponents Court Commentators Notes
9:18 Tease Katie George delayed by LSU-Kentucky gymnastics
9:19 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
9:19 1 Sinner/Spizzirri RLA Chris Fowler, John McEnroe, Sam Querrey
10:06 Studio Katie George, Sam Querrey
10:08 Jessica Pegula interview Kris Budden
10:10 Madison Keys interview Kris Budden
10:12 Sinner/Spizzirri play suspended 10:36 for roof close
10:37 2 Musetti/Machac JCA Chris Fowler, John McEnroe play suspended 10:38 for roof close
10:45 Sinner/Spizzirri play resumed 10:45
11:02 Report on heat scale Kris Budden no play outside before 1:30
11:09 <Musetti/Machac split-screen to end #1 at 11:10>
11:24 3 Shelton/Vacherot MCA Mike Monaco, James Blake
11:36 Sinner/Spizzirri end #2 at 12:10
11:41 <interview with chief medical officer Kris Budden split-screen>
11:52 UPDATE: Shelton/Vacherot
12:13 Shelton/Vacherot end #3 at 1:11
1:12 Shelton post-match interview Chris Eubanks
1:21 Billboard of coming matches Katie George
1:25 Studio Katie George, CoCo Vandeweghe no play outside before 2:00
1:33 Interview with Ethan Quinn coach Kris Budden
1:40 4 Fritz/Wawrinka JCA Patrick McEnroe, Chris Eubanks
2:33 Studio with Eliot Spizzirri Katie George, James Blake
2:41 Fritz/Wawrinka

Selected primetime commentators (3-8:28 a.m.)

  • Djokovic/van de Zandschulp: Jason Goodall, James Blake
  • Mensik/Quinn and Ruud/Cilic: Mike Monaco, Chris Eubanks, CoCo Vandeweghe
  • Osaka/Inglis was canceled after Osaka withdrew

Day 8 - Saturday night into Sunday, Jan. 25

On The Docket: 75 matches, 144.3 hours

  • Men's singles: 4 octofinal matches (8 seeds, 2 Americans)
  • Women's singles: 4 octofinal matches (7 seeds, 2 Americans)
  • Men's doubles: 4 octofinal matches (4 seeds, 3|2 Americans)
  • Women's doubles: 1 second-round match (1 seed, 1 American); 4 octofinal matches (6 seeds, 2 Americans)
  • Mixed doubles: 4 first-round matches (2 seeds, 1 American); 4 second-round matches (3 seeds, 4|3 Americans)
    • Tour total: 25 matches
  • Boys singles: 22 first-round matches
  • Girls singles: 20 first-round matches
  • Boys doubles: 4 first-round matches
  • Girls doubles: 4 first-round matches

Forecast: Mostly sunny. The chance of smoke haze in the morning and early afternoon. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h (12-18 mph). Maximum temperature 25C/77F.

Sunset: 8:38 p.m. local / 4:38 a.m. EST.

TV Schedule: ESPN2, 7:30 p.m. - 7 a.m. EST. ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+, all day.

2026-01-25 Australian Open order of play.png
EST Match Opponents Court Commentators Notes
7:30 Open Chris Fowler
7:32 Studio in Laver booth Chris Fowler, Mary Joe Fernandez
7:38 Report about air quality Kris Budden
7:39 1 Sabalenka/Mboko RLA Chris Fowler, Mary Joe Fernandez first ball 7:44
8:18 Studio Malika Andrews, Chris Eubanks
8:20 Sabalenka/Mboko end #1 at 9:11
9:18 Studio Malika Andrews, Chris Eubanks
9:23 Aryna Sabalenka interview Kris Budden
9:29 Report about Carlos Alcaraz Kris Budden
9:35 2 Alcaraz/Paul RLA Chris Fowler, John McEnroe, Sam Querrey first ball 9:46, suspended 10:38-10:51 for spectator medical emergency
10:03 3 <Jovic/Putintseva JCA Mike Monaco, Caroline Wozniacki split-screen to 10:04>
11:00 Studio Malika Andrews, Chris Eubanks
11:01 Alcaraz/Paul
12:12 4 Gauff/Muchova MCA Chris McKendry, Chrissie Evert, Chris Eubanks
12:25 <Alcaraz/Paul split-screen to 12:26>
12:27 Alcaraz/Paul end #2 at 12:30
12:31 Gauff/Muchova