World No.1 Jannik Sinner will grace Melbourne Park for the first time this Australian Open on Tuesday night, as he hunts a third-straight Grand Slam title ‘Down Under’.
The 24-year-old’s first-round clash on Rod Laver Arena won’t necessarily be as easy as previous years though, facing handy Frenchman Hugo Gaston in prime time.
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While Novak Djokovic (2011-13, 2019-21) managed the incredible three-peat twice in the Men’s this century, the rare chance to go back-to-back-to-back is there for the taking, all things being equal.
Australia’s Jack Crawford (1931-33) during The Great Depression is the only other male to ever achieve the feat beyond Djokovic.
Following Sinner on the main court is Japan star Naomi Osaka, who herself is a two-time Australian Open champion back in 2019 and 2021 respectively.
And to round out an intriguing day of tennis over on John Cain Arena, Aussie duo Madison Inglis and Kimberley Birrell will battle it out for a shot at a second round berth.
No.9 seed and American star Traylor Fritz will grace the court beforehand, beginnin his bid to go at least one better than his 2024 quarter final appearance at Melbourne Park.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN NIGHT 3 ORDER OF PLAY
Show courts and Aussies – all times AEDT
Rod Laver Arena
From 7pm
Hugo Gaston (FRA) vs [2] Jannik Sinner (ITA)
[16] Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs Antonia Ruzic (CRO)
Margaret Court Arena
Night session from 7pm
Katie Boulter (GBR) vs [10] Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Shintaro Mochizuki (JPN) vs [31] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
John Cain Arena
Night session from 5pm
Valentin Royer (FRA) vs [9] Taylor Fritz (USA)
[Q] Maddison Inglis (AUS) vs Kim Birrell (AUS)
ANZ Arena
(Est. 7pm)
Daria Kasatkina (AUS) vs [Q] Nikola Bartunkova (CZE)
Court 6
Third match (est. 5:30pm)
[WC] James Duckworth (AUS) vs [LL] Dino Prizmic (CRO)
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