What: The year's first Grand Slam tennis tournament.
Where: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
When: January 12-26.
TV: Max and Eurosport. The singles finals will be broadcast on Channel 9.
+ Prize money
The total prize money for the Grand Slam tournament is a whopping 96.5 million Australian dollars, equivalent to almost 670 million Swedish kronor. This is an increase of almost 12 percent since last year. The winners on the men's and women's sides will receive over 24 million each. Those who are eliminated in the first round can console themselves with nearly 1 million kronor.
+ Can Djokovic challenge Sinner?
Former world number one Novak Djokovic has won the tournament ten times, most recently in 2023. However, the Serb showed declining form when he was eliminated in the quarterfinals in Brisbane. Italian and world number one Jannik Sinner lifted the trophy on center court last time. This year's first Grand Slam will partially revolve around this duo, but also – to mention a few – top-ranked Alexander Zverev, Germany, Carlos Alcaraz, Spain, and for the Nordic crowd, perhaps primarily Norwegian Casper Ruud.
Djokovic and Sinner have been drawn on opposite sides and cannot meet until the final. Djokovic may face Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
+ Will Sabalenka's winning streak continue?
She won in 2023 and 2024 – will Aryna Sabalenka's winning streak continue in Melbourne? The Belarusian world number one is likely to be challenged for the title, among others by two younger players: Polish Iga Swiatek, world number two, and third-ranked Coco Gauff from the USA. Perhaps Japanese Naomi Osaka can also mix into the title hunt. The 27-year-old was back on the WTA tour in 2024 after giving birth to a daughter in the summer of 2023.
Sabalenka may face Gauff in the semifinals. Gauff gets a challenging first match when she faces former Melbourne champion Sofia Kenin.
+ Swedish darkness
The only singles hope, Mirjam Björklund, was eliminated in the singles qualifying, and thus only doubles player André Göransson will participate in the senior tournament.
+ Doping scandals
Both the men's world number one, Jannik Sinner, and the women's world number two, Iga Swiatek, tested positive for banned substances in 2024. Both cases have only led to temporary suspensions. A final decision on Sinner's case is expected to come after the tournament. But both are cleared to play in the tournament.
Of course, there will be some negative comments. You can't avoid that, says Swiatek according to AP ahead of the tournament.
It has been handled terribly in our sport. Two world number ones who get caught for doping. It looks terrible for the sport, says local star Nick Kyrgios about the situation.
+ Tough playing schedule
With a tight tournament schedule, high demands are placed on all players. Several players have spoken out about how the year-end no longer means a break in play.
I wish our "offseason" was longer, 100 percent. But that's the way it is, says American Coco Gauff about the playing schedule.
I wouldn't even say there is an "offseason" anymore. The season never ends, adds Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
