The first Grand Slam event of the year has arrived as the best tennis players in the world will compete in Melbourne at the 2023 Australian Open.
ATP and WTA tournaments are already underway and have been played across Australia and in New Zealand, but the tournament that defines the early part of the tennis season is undoubtedly the slam down under.
Here is how to watch every match at the tournament, including the schedule and key absences to be aware of.
How to Watch Every Australian Open Match
Watching the Australian Open is easy in the United States as ESPN holds the exclusive rights to every match, including the qualifying draw and all matches played on outer courts.
The matches will be broadcast or streamed across the network's various platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+. If you're a tennis fan, an ESPN+ subscription is well worth the price just for this tournament.
Australian Open Schedule
Below is a breakdown of each day's match schedule, from January 16th, when the first round begins, to January 29th, when the men's singles final is played.
Note: Dates correspond to when matches start in Australia. Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
| Date | Rounds Played |
|---|---|
| 1/16 | Men's / Women's First Round |
| 1/17 | Men's / Women's First Round |
| 1/18 | Men's / Women's Second Round |
| 1/19 | Men's / Women's Second Round |
| 1/20 | Men's / Women's Third Round |
| 1/21 | Men's / Women's Third Round |
| 1/22 | Men's / Women's Fourth Round |
| 1/23 | Men's / Women's Fourth Round |
| 1/24 | Men's / Women's Quarterfinals |
| 1/25 | Men's / Women's Quarterfinals |
| 1/26 | Women's Semifinals |
| 1/27 | Men's Semifinals |
| 1/28 | Women's Final |
| 1/29 | Men's Final |
Key Absences
Carlos Alcaraz – The World No. 1 won't be competing in Australia after winning his first major at the US Open in the fall. He suffered a leg injury in preparation for the event and was forced to withdraw.
Naomi Osaka – A two-time Australian Open champion, Osaka recently announced that she is pregnant with her first child, though she noted her plan is to play in the 2024 Aussie Open.
Venus Williams – The 42-year-old planned to play as a wild card in the tournament, but she had to withdraw due to an injury suffered in her warm-up event at the ASB Classic.
Ashleigh Barty – One of the most dominant tennis players in recent history stepped away from the game shortly after winning the Australian Open – the event that represents her home country. Barty also recently announced that she is pregnant with her first child.
