Australian Open 2024: Date, UK start times, seeds and how to follow – Rafael Nadal out but Emma Raducanu set for injury return in Grand Slam
Tennis returns with a bang in 2024 with the first Grand Slam of the year as the world's best take part in the Australian Open.
However, the tournament has gone ahead without Rafael Nadal after the 22-time slam champion confirmed he has suffered another injury.
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The legendary Spaniard has not played a competitive match since suffering a serious hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open.
The 37-year-old, who has already stated that 2024 would be his final year on tour, was due to return to Melbourne at the first major of the year before sustaining another injury.
However, Caroline Wozniacki has been awarded a wild card after coming out of retirement while former champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber are poised for comebacks as well.
Emma Raducanu will also hope to make an impact as she returns to Grand Slam action following surgeries on both wrists and her ankle.
Australian Open 2024: How to follow
The Grand Slam is being held at Melbourne Park and play began on Sunday, January 14 - the first Sunday start in the tournament’s history.
It will run until the men's final on Sunday, January 27 with the women's final taking place the day before.
The schedule change this year is to spread out first-round matches across three days instead of two to avoid games running too late.
Main-day sessions each day begin at midnight UK time, until the semi-finals (Melbourne is 11 hours ahead of GMT).
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The night sessions will then get underway at 7:30am UK time.
The showpiece event will be shown live on Eurosport.
You can also stream every match of the 2024 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+.
Entertainment & Sport pass prices on discovery+ are £6.99/month or £59.99/year. For all streaming info, visit .
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Australian Open 2024: Schedule
- Sunday, January 14– Men’s and women’s first-round matches
- Monday, January 15– Men’s and women’s first-round matches
- Tuesday, January 16 – Men’s and women’s second-round matches
- Wednesday, January 17 – Men’s and women’s second-round matches
- Thursday, January 18 – Men’s and women’s second-round matches
- Friday, January 19 – Men’s and women’s third-round matches
- Saturday, January 20 – Men’s and women’s third-round matches
- Sunday, January 21 – Men’s and women’s fourth-round matches
- Monday, January 22 – Men’s and women’s fourth-round matches
- Tuesday, January 23 – Men’s and women’s quarter-finals
- Wednesday, January 24 – Men’s and women’s quarter-finals
- Thursday, January 25 – Women’s semi-finals
- Friday, January 26 – Men’s semi-finals
- Saturday, January 27 – Women’s final, men’s doubles final
- Sunday, January 28 – Men’s final, women’s doubles final
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Australian Open 2024: What has been said?
Nick Kyrgios, who has played only one match in 2023, confirmed he will miss the tournament for the second year in a row.
“This is a very disappointing time for me but I won’t be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open,” Kyrgios said on social media.
“Obviously, heartbreaking.
"I’ve had so many amazing memories there and I just want to really get back to playing at the top of my game and doing it right, and I need a little more time.”
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