Two weeks into the new year, it is finally time to kick-start the first Major of the season, as the collective eye of the tennis world turns to Melbourne for this year\u2019s edition of the Australian Open.<\/p>\n
Coined the \u201cHappy Slam\u201d, partly because of its status as the official starting point of the tennis season, this year\u2019s event once again promises to be one for the ages. Here is your complete guide on how to keep up with the action.<\/p>\n
The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park on outdoor blue hard courts. However, organisers provide retractable roofs to ensure uninterrupted play during poor weather. The main show court, Rod Laver Arena, named after one of tennis\u2019s greatest legends, holds nearly 15,000 spectators, while several other courts support the event.<\/p>\n
Although officials have not released the official court speed data in recent years, players usually experience slicker, lower-bounce conditions here. As a result, the courts favour flatter groundstrokes and aggressive tennis.<\/p>\n
Like every Slam, the Australian Open main draw features 128 players. This field includes 32 seeds, 16 qualifiers, and 8 wildcards selected by tournament organisers.<\/p>\n
The complete women\u2019s<\/a> and men\u2019s draws are now available to the public. Moreover, readers can also find an in-depth breakdown and analysis of the men\u2019s draw<\/a>.<\/p>\n The tournament boasts an event record prize pool<\/a> of AUD $111.5 million ($74.53 million). Notably, this figure represents a rise of more than 15% from the previous edition. The event splits the total equally between the men\u2019s and women\u2019s competitions, with each singles champion receiving AUD $4.15 million ($2.77 million).<\/p>\n As with every Slam, the winner earns 2,000 ATP or WTA ranking points.<\/p>\n Fans worldwide can follow the first Major of the season on these broadcasters:<\/p>\n In Europe, coverage will appear on:<\/p>\n Complete global broadcasting details are also available on the tournament website<\/a>.<\/p>\nPrize Money and Ranking Points<\/h3>\n
Where to Watch<\/h3>\n
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